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RN     POST 
SALT    LAKE   CI 


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It's  about  duration-izing  your 

GAS  FURNACE. 

While  our  boys  in  uniform  are 
making  it  hot  for  the  enemy. . . 
you'll  want  to  keep  the  home 
fires  burning.  Let  me  help  you!" 


HERE       A   R   E       S   O   M   E       PRACTICAL       HINTS 


PLEASE  AVOID  UNNECESSARY  SERVICE  CALLS  — Hun- 
dreds of  trained  utility  men  are  in  the  armed  forces. 
Trucks  roll  on  precious  rubber.  War 
jA  industries   have   first   call.  In  order  to 

/wV  maintain  essential  find  emergency  serv- 

f\  ice,  your  gas  company  requests:  If  pos- 

sible, make  minor  adjustments  yourself; 
and  for  skilled  service  or  repairs,  call  your  heating 
dealer  or  plumber. 

FLOOR    FURNACES  (also  applies  to  cold  air  return)  — 

Avoid  dropping  or  sweeping  debris  through  grille, 
or  "register."  Once  each  season,  pref- 
erably now  before  heavy  winter  usage, 
cobwebs  and  dust  should  be  cleaned 
out.  Some  types  have  removable  grille 
and   can   be   cleared  with   a   vacuum 

cleaner   attachment;  others  have  a  clean-out  door 

underneath  or  in  the  basement. 

FORCED  AIR  FURNACES  -  Blower  fan  and  motor 
bearings  should  be  lubricated  periodically  with  a 
few  drops  of  fine  oil,  and  fan  belt  kept 
tight  enough  to  prevent  slipping.  If  your 
installation  includes  filters,  they  should 
be  replaced  every  year  or  two  years,  de- 
pending on  condition.  These  simple 
precautions  may  savdannoyance  and  costly  repairs. 


REPLACEMENTS  —  Your  gas  furnace  is  so  simple  in 
operation  that  with  ordinary  care,  it  should  serve 
for  the  duration.  But  if  serious  trouble 
develops  through  extreme  age  or  break- 
age, call  your  dealer  or  plumber  while 
parts  are  still  obtainable.  In  fact,  you 
may  be  eligible  to  buy  a  new  furnace  if 
available  in  your  locality.  Ask  your  dealer  about 
latest  government  regulations;  also  about  a  main- 
tenance contract  for  regular  service. 

SAVE  GAS  —  Avoid  overheating  rooms;  it  is  more 
healthful  as  well  as  economical  to  maintain  a  steady 
"comfort  temperature."  Remember;  Waste  helps  the 
enemy,  conservation  helps  America, 

DURATION -IZE  ALL  YOUR  APPLIANCES  — A  previous 
message  in  this  series  discussed  wartime  care  of 
your  gas  range.  Watch  for  future  advertisements 
on  how  to  prolong  the  life  of  your  automatic  gas 
water  heater  and  gas  refrigerator,  and  assure  their 
efficient  operation. 


t 


GAS 


THE 

WONDER 

FUEL 


'Buy  more,  and 

more  U.  S.  War 

Bonds 


MOUNTAIN    FUEL    SUPPLY    COMPANY 

Serving  Twenty-three  Utah  Communities 
Sales  offices  in  Salt  Lake  City,  Ogden  and  Provo 


By  FRANKLIN  S.  HARRIS,  JR. 

A  ccording  to  Dr.  Walter  B.  Cannon, 
"^  the  heat  produced  by  a  man's 
strenuous  exercise,  continued  for  twen- 
ty minutes,  if  it  were  not  promptly  given 
off  by  the  body,  would  cause  some  of 
the  albuminous  substances  of  the  body 
to  become  stiff,  similar  to  a  hard-boiled 

egg- 

4 

"pEAR  and  anxiety  may  so  dry  out  the 
■*•     mouth  and  throat  as  to  cause  a  dis- 
tressing thirst. 
■f- 


A  simplified  musical  scale  has  been 
**  proposed  by  Kenneth  B.  Wood  in 
England  to  leave  out  the  distinction  be- 
tween the  treble  and  bass  clefs  and  to 
be  without  special  marks  on  a  note  to 
show  sharps  and  flats.  In  the  sim- 
plified notation  the  position  of  a  note 
on  the  staff  corresponds  to  the  position 
of  the  key  on  the  piano.  The  staff  is 
composed  of  alternate  groups  of  two 
and  three  lines,  the  black  lines  repre- 
senting the  black  keys,  and  hence 
both  sharps  and  flats,  and  the  white 
spaces  between,  the  white  keys.  C 
sharp,  the  lowermost  line  of  the  treble 
clef,  is  drawn  more  heavily  than  the 
rest,  and  the  bass  clef  is  merely  a  con- 
tinuation downward  of  the  treble  clef. 


*"Phe  Morse  code  used  in  radio  and 
telegraphy  is  to  be  learned  most 
easily  by  ear,  according  to  the  Ameri- 
can Radio  Relay  League,  Instead  of 
learning  dots  and  dashes  by  seeing  and 
writing,  as  the  equivalents  for  letters, 
it  is  easier  to  learn  by  hearing  the  sound 
whistled  or  as  it  comes  in  on  a  headset. 


KTagnesium,  one-third  lighter  in 
weight  than  aluminum,  can  now  be 
arc-welded  by  keeping  oxygen  away 
with  a  blanket  of  the  inert  helium  gas. 
With  oxygen  present  in  the  arc  the 
magnesium  would  burn  just  as  it  does 
in  an  incendiary  bomb. 


Tt  is  estimated  that  about  fifty  leaves 
on  the  tree  are  necessary  to  produce 
the  food  to  develop  an  orange,  forty 
to  fifty  for  a  good-sized  apple,  and 
thirty  to  forty  for  a  peach. 

4 

"KTSThite  corpuscles,  living  in  bottles 
vv  away  from  the  human  body,  ac- 
tively eat  microbes  and  red  corpuscles 
just  as  though  they  were  defending  the 
body.  Epithelial  cells,  which  normally 
cover  a  surface  such  as  forming  the 
skin,  when  cultivated  outside  the  animal 
to  which  they  belong  arrange  them- 
selves in  a  pattern  just  as  though  they 
were  protecting  a  surface. 
^ 

Tt  has  been  found  by  Dr.  Walter  M. 

Elsasser  that  air  cools  in  a  clear  sky 

(Concluded  on  page  678) 


Clip  and  Send  Today 
for 

Free  Recipe  Book 


</ 


Or  if  you  prefer  delicious  old-fashioned 
Buckwheat  Pancakes  ask  for  Globe  "Al" 
Buckwheat    Flour — also    ready    prepared. 


GLOBE  "Al"  FMC AKFl  ^WAFFLE  FLDIJH 


673 


113th  Semi-annual  Conference  Edition 

containing  an  account  of  conference  proceedings  and  the  complete 

text  of  the  addresses  delivered 

*Mmproocment  Era 


"The  Glory  of  God  is  Intelligence' 


NOVEMBER,  1942 

VOLUME     45  NUMBER     11 

"THE  VOICE  OF  THE  CHURCH" 


OFFICIAL  ORGAN  OF  THE  PRIESTHOOD  QUORUMS, 
MUTUAL  IMPROVEMENT  ASSOCIATIONS,  DEPART- 
MENT OF  EDUCATION,  MUSIC  COMMITTEE,  WARD 
TEACHERS,  AND  OTHER  AGENCIES  OF  THE  CHURCH 
OF     JESUS     CHRIST     OF     LATTER-DAY     SAINTS. 


JhsL  £dih?i&u  (paqsL 


Heber  J. 

Grant, 

John  A. 

Widtsoe, 

Editors 

Richard 

L.  Evans, 

Managing  Editor 

Marba  C 

.  Josephson, 

Associate  Editor 

George  Q. 

Morris,   General  Mgr. 

Lucy  G.  G 

innon,  Associate  Mgr. 

J.  K.  Orton 

,  Business  Mgr. 

My  Call  to  the  Apostleship  Heber  J.  Grant  685 


QPiWick,  3>si£duteA. 


656 


Message  of  the  First  Presidency  to  the  Church 

Private  Ownership  under  the  United  Order,  and  the 

Guarantees  of  the  Constitution J.  Reuben  Clark,  Jr.  688 

The  Light  that  Shines  in  Darkness David  O.  McKay  690 

Joseph  F.  Smith,  Patriarch  to  the  Church 

Joseph  Fielding  Smith  694 

Evidences  and  Reconciliations — LIX*    What  is  the  Meaning 

of  Salvation? John  A.  Widtsoe  721 

Conference   Index   675       Priesthood:   Melchizedek  730 


Music:  Forum  for  Church  Mu- 
sicians, Alexander  Schreiner..680 

Church  of  the  Air  Broadcast .700 

Tabernacle  Choir  and  Organ 
Broadcast 704 

Genealogy:  Record  -  Making, 
Nellie  F.  D.  Hanny 714 

The  Church  Moves  On  718 


SpGCLoL  J>£jtdlVi£A. 


Sam  Brannan  and  the  Mormons 


The  Land  of  Timelessness 

Journey  to  Mexico — 1884  

Exploring  the  Universe,  Frank- 
lin S.  Harris,  Jr 673 

Old  Testament  Curiosities  674 

Native      Culture      in      Mexico, 

Charles  E.  Dibble 677 

Telefacts 678 

Added  Information  on  "The  Ab- 
stracted Indian  Trust  Bonds"  684 
"Strange  Language,"  R.  L.  E.  ..709 
On  the  Book  Rack 717 


Aaronic  733 

Ward  Teaching  734 

Mutual  Messages:    Executives.. 735 

Special  Interest 735 

M  Men-Gleaners  736 

Explorers 736 

Juniors  736 

Scouts    738 

Bee-Hive  Girls  „ 738 


in  Early  California — Part  II 

Paul  Bailey  692 

Milton  Mangum  693 

Rachel  Grant  Taylor  696 

Homing:     Words     A     Shining 

Armor,  Edith  Brandis  .722 

Challenge  to  Women 722 

Cooks'   Corner,   Josephine  B. 

Nichols 723 

Handy  Hints 724 

Moslem  in  Name  Only,  S.  Ed- 
ward Williams  724 

Index  to  Advertisers 758 

Your  Page  and  Ours  768 


Two  Notable  Anniversaries John  A.  Widtsoe  720 

The  Patriarch  to  the  Church .....John  A.  Widtsoe  720 

"As  Plants  Grown  Up  in  Their  Youth" Richard  L.  Evans  720 

As  One  in  Spirit  Richard  L.  Evans  720 

The  General's  Boots Richard  Ball  716 


Frontispiece:    Land  of  Liberty.. 683 
Quiet       Faith,       Eva       Willes 
Wangsgaard  ....703 


Poetry  Page  715 

Young  Ducks,  Lucretia  Penny. .722 
Scriptural   Crossword   Puzzle.. ..766 


JhsL  Qovsuv 


A  beacon  of  liberty  to  all  the  world,  this  symbol,  photographed  by  H.  Armstrong 
Roberts,  is  a  reminder  of  the  prophecies  concerning  this  land,  of  the  rights  of  free 
men  everywhere,  and  of  the  guarantees  of  the  Constitution,  a  sacred  and  inspired 
document  of  freedom.  (See  pages  683  and  688) 

674 


OLD  TESTAMENT 


1.  To  whom  did  God  promise  that 
His  children  should  be  in  numbers  as 
the  stars  in  heaven? 

2.  By  whom  were  the  Jews  delivered 
according  to  prophecy? 

3.  What  book  of  the  Bible  was  writ- 
ten without  mentioning  the  name  of 
God? 

4.  What  was  the  early  Bible  name 
for  prophet? 

5.  By  whom  were  the  children  of  Is- 
rael carried  captive  into  Babylon? 

6.  What  did  Job  say  at  the  loss  of  his 
children  and  all  his  possessions? 

7.  Who  is  greater  than  he  that  taketh 
a  city? 

8.  To  whom  was  the  birthright  given 
when  taken  from  Reuben? 

9.  The  birth  of  how  many  distin- 
guished Bible  characters  was  announced 
by  angels? 

10.  Who  said  "To  obey  is  better 
than  sacrifice,  and  to  hearken,  than  the 
fat  of  rams"? 

(Answers  will  be  found  on  page  728) 


EXECUTIVE    AND    EDITORIAL 
OFFICES: 

50  North  Main  Street,   Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

Copyright  1942  by  Mutual  Funds.  Inc.,  a  Cor- 
poration of  the  Young  Men's  Mutual  Improve' 
ment  Association  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ 
of  Latter-day  Saints.  All  rights  reserved.  Sub- 
scription price,  $2.00  a  year,  in  advance;  20c 
single  copy. 

Entered  at  the  Post  Office,  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  as  second-class  matter.  Acceptance  for 
mailing  at  special  rate  of  postage  provided 
for  in  section  1103.  Act  of  October,  1917, 
authorized  July  2.    1918. 

The  Improvement  Era  is  not  responsible 
for  unsolicited  manuscripts,  but  welcomes  con- 
tributions. All  manuscripts  must  be  accompanied 
by  sufficient  postage  for  delivery  and  return. 

NATIONAL  ADVERTISING 
REPRESENTATIVES 

Salt  Lake  City:  Francis  M.  Mayo 
San  Francisco:  Edward  S.  Townsend 
Chicago:  Dougan  and  Bolle 
New  York:  Dougan  and  Bolle 

MEMBER  OF  THE  AUDIT  BUREAU  OF 
CIRCULATIONS 


A  MAGAZINE  FOR  EVERY 
MEMBER  OF  THE  FAMILY 


9ndex,  to • 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE 

ADDRESSES 

Ashton,  Marvin  O.  748 

Bennion,    Samuel    O.   746 

Bowen,   Albert  E.,  Immutables  712 

Callis,    Charles   A.,    Rededication    711 

Changes  in  Church  Officers 751 

Church  of  the  Air  Broadcast 700,  704 

Clark,  J.  Reuben  Jr.,  Private  Owner- 
ship Under  the  United  Order,  and 
the  Guarantees  of  the  Constitution  688 

Clawson,  Rudger,  The  Lord's  Mercy 
to   the    Repentant    699 

Evans,  Richard  L.  700,  704,  739 

First  Presidency,  Message   of  the   —1—686 

Grant,  Heber  J.,  Call  to  the  Apost- 
leship    685 

Hardy,    Rufus    K.   741 

Ivins,  Antoine  R.  745 

Kirkham,    Oscar   A.    740 

Lee,  Harold  B.,  Remaining  Steadfast  .713 

Lyman,  Richard  R.,  Liquor,  Immoral- 
ity, and  Our  Armed  Forces  706 

McKay,  David  O.,  The  Light  that 
Shines    in   Darkness   690 

McKay,  Thomas  E.  741 

Merrill,  Joseph  F.,  Priesthood  Ac- 
tivity      710 

Richards,  George  F.,  Our  Aspirations 
and  Covenants  703 

Richards,  LeGrand,  The  Power  of 
Example     _ 701 

Richards,  Stephen  L,  In  Holy  Places .... 705 

Romney,  Marion  G.  744 

Smith,  George  Albert,  True  to  the 
Faith  702 

Smith,  Joseph  F.,  Testimony  694 

Smith,  Joseph  Fielding,  To  Be  Called 
the   Sons   of   God    704 

Smith,  Nicholas  G.  749 

Sonne,    Alma    739 

Tabernacle  Choir  and  Organ  Broad- 

704 

746 


cast     

Taylor,  John  H. 


Widtsoe,  John  A.,  Leadership 708 

Wirthlin,   Joseph  L.  743 

Young,   Clifford  E.    747 

Young,  Levi  Edgar,  Sowers  and  Reap- 


ers 


700 


She's  A  Wise  Mother  Who  Insists  On  Checking  The 
Flavor,  Color  And  Texture  Of  The  Foods  She  Serves 

Her  Youngster! 

TVTAYBE  you're  one  of  those  women  who  think  all  baby 
XV±  foods  taste  alike!  We'd  like  to  have  you  compare  Heinz 
^trained  Foods  with  any  other  brand  you  choose.  Look  at 
the  fresh  color  of  Heinz  food-note  the  smooth,  full-bodied 
texture  -taste  that  tempting,  wholesome  flavor!  Heinz  15 
Strained  Foods  have  the  natural  goodness  of  finest-grade 
fruits,  vegetables,  meats  and  cereals-scientifically  cooked  and 
vacuum-packed  in  enamel-lined  tins.  Vitamins 
and  minerals  are  also  retained  in  high  degree. 

Order  a  supply  of  these  high-quality,  ready- 
to-serve  foods.  See  if  your  baby,  too,  doesn't 
decide  they're  delicious! 

THESE  TWO  SEALS  MEAN 

PROTECTION  FOR  YOUR 

BABY 


BABY  FOODS 


BACKED  BY  A  73-YEAit  QUALITY  TRADiTJIONf 

J5  delicious,  ready-to-serve  Strained  12  highly  nutritive  Junior  Foods- 
Foods  vacuum-packed  in  protective  unstrained  and  mildly  seasoned  — 
enamel-lined  tins;  vitamins  and  min~  designed  to  bridge  the  gap  between 
erols  are  retained  in  high  degree!  Strained    Foods   and    family   meals. 


675 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


We  Vol 


ue 

our  association  with 


president  Mcbcr  j.  $m\t 

for  hid 

—  Wise  Counsel 

— ^eudoneu  Audament 

— ^rriendlu  (^oo&eration 


u  \^oop 


Cxemptctru  rJLile 


UNION  PACIFIC  RAILROAD 


676 


VLativsL  gidtuJUL 

IN  MEXICO 

By  CHARLES  E.  DIBBLE 

Roosevelt  Fellow,  Institute  of  Interna- 
tional Education 

WE  are  accustomed  to  think  of 
Mexico  as  a  Spanish-speaking 
nation  with  a  culture  very  similar 
to  our  own.  We  forget  the  extent  to 
which  pre-Spanish  habits,  customs, 
ideas,  and  traditions  persist  among  the 
native  population.  Racially,  Mexico  is 
still  Indian  rather  than  Spanish  or  mes- 
tizo. 

According  to  recent  government  fig- 
ures, three  million  or  about  seventeen 
percent  of  the  population  still  speak  one 
of  the  fifty  surviving  Indian  languages 
spoken  in  Mexico.  The  greatest  num- 
ber, six  hundred  seventy  thousand, 
speak  Aztec,  and  two  hundred  seventy- 
nine  thousand  ninety-three  still  speak 
Mayan. 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


|lS,' 


HUASTECA  FAMILY 

Illustrative  of  these  native-speaking 
Indians  are  the  Huasteca  of  southeast- 
ern San  Luis  Potosi.  Their  language  is 
related  to  the  Maya  and  is  spoken  by 
approximately  forty-one  thousand  two 
hundred  seventy-one  persons.  Voca- 
bulary comparisons  show  that  their 
language  has  not  changed  appreciably 
during  the  last  two  centuries.  With  the 
exception  of  the  dog,  burro,  horse,  a 
few  cows,  and  the  coffee  bean,  their 
material  culture  is  little  different  from 
before  the  conquest.  Their  basic  staples 
are  corn  cakes  (tortillas),  beans,  chile, 
and  coffee.  They  still  use  the  bow  and 
arrow  to  some  extent  in  hunting  deer. 
There  is  an  abundance  of  legend  and 
tradition  of  the  life  of  these  people  be- 
fore the  arrival  of  the  Christian  con- 
querors. Occasionally  reports  filter 
through  of  an  inland  village  still  harbor- 
ing an  ancient  idol  supposed  to  have 
special  power  over  the  manifestations 
of  nature. 


What's  worse:- 35  miles  an  hour 
or  00  miles  an  hour? 


Don't  flunk  an  easy  one!... This  is 
worth  thought . .  .The  prize  at  stake 
is  your  car! 

. . .Today's  sensible  top  speed  of  35  for 
patriots  is  a  cinch  for  your  engine,  com- 
pared to  unlubricated  cold  starting — 
way  down  at  00  miles  an  hour! 

People  in  dead  earnest  to  battle  wear 
from  the  very  start,  are  having  their 
engines  oil-plated.  Without  using  up 
extra  moments  or  money,  they  simply 
change  to  Conoco  N^  motor  oil  — 
patented.  And  this  oil's  added  modern 
synthetic — with  apparent  "magnetic  at- 
traction"—  closely  bonds  lubricant  to 
inner  engine  parts.  That's  called  oil- 
plating  because  it  resembles  any  good 
protective  plating  in  not  all  "going  else- 
where" while  the  car  stands  cold. 

Oil-plating  doesn't  all  quickly  go 
draining  off  down  to  the  crankcase.  Oil 
down  there  in  the  depths  is  still  trying  to 
"get  a  move  on"  as  the  engine  starts, 
while  oil-plating  is  already  faithfully 
fastened  clear  up  to  the  topmost  piston 
rings.  Simply  because  oil-plating 
doesn't  all  go  away,  it's  there  ahead  of 
time,  to  get  ahead  of  rampant  wear  in 
starting  cold.   It's  there  the  rest  of  the 


time,  too.  And  so  the  strong  liquid-type 
film  of  Conoco  Nth  oil  is  sliding  between 
oil-plated  surfaces.  Not  much  look-in 
for  wartime  wear.  Better  change  to  an 
oil-plated  engine,  at  Your  Mileage 
Merchant's  Conoco  station.  He  knows 
your  correct  Winter  grade  of  Conoco  N**» 
oil.   Continental  Oil  Company 

JOIN    FREE 

Elect  yourself  to  the  once-a-week  club  at 
Your  Mileage  Merchant's  Conoco  station. 
Choose  your  own  regular  day  to  drive  in  and 
have  him  check  your  tires,  oil,  radiator  and 
battery.  His  systematic  expert  attention 
means  trouble-prevention.  He'll  report  in 
advance  on  lubrication  and  anything  that  he 
finds  you  need  for  the  duration  of  your  car! 

Care  For  Your  Car .  . .  For  Your  Country 


CONOCO 


MOTOR  OIL 


AMERICA'S     FINEST    OVERALL 


SINCE   1853 


LEVI'S 


THERE'S  A  REASON— 
Others  can't  imitate  LEVI'S! 


LEVI  STRAUSS. 


A  NEW  PAIR   FREE 
IF  THEY  RU> 


scratch  CONCEALED  COPPER  RIVETS  ON  BACK  POCKETS 


677 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


A  SUPERB  HOTEL 


*#®mm 


IN  SAN  FRANCISCO 

Convenient  to  business,  social, 
shopping  and  theatres .  Single 
from  $4   -Double  from  $6 
Suites  from  $10  'A  generally 
lower  scale  of  rates  for  long 
term  occupancy 


HOTEL 


Edmond  A.  Rieder 

General  Manager 


P    &"       '' 


HOW 

would  you  plan  a 


i 


I 


i 


1.  Travel  only  when  neces- 
sary; plan  trips  in  ad- 
vance. 

2.  Select  less  crowded  sched- 
ules; go  week  days. 

3.  Get  tickets  early;  take  only 
1  suitcase. 

union  pacific 

STAGES 


if. 


*ftix,.,:,:;:>¥SH-::^ 


TEiEFACT 


PICTOGRAPH  CORPORATION 
SCIENCE  SERVICE  7.25.2 


HOW  CIVILIAN   USE  OF  RUBBER 


CIVILIAN 
CONSUMPTION 


IN 
1941 


HAS  TO  BE  CUT  DOWN 


700,000  TONS 


IN 
1942 


150,000  TONS 


Exploring  the  Universe 

(Concluded  from  page  673) 

by  radiation  of  energy  about  one  de- 
gree Centigrade  in  polar  air  masses  and 
two  to  three  degrees  in  equatorial  air. 
The  heat  for  this  must  be  supplied  by 
convection,  turbulence,  and  condensa- 
tion of  water  since  there  is  apparently 
no  heating  of  the  air  by  radiation. 

♦ 

Tn  Papua,  in  the  south  seas,  nets  of 
great  strength  are  made  from  the 
webs  of  giant  spiders  which  spin  their 
geometrical  webs  from  tree  to  tree.  The 
Santa  Crucians  make  an  octagonal  kite 
from  cocoanut  fronds  with  a  tail  to 
serve  as  a  fish  line.  A  mass  of  cobweb 
is  used  as  b  lure,  trailing  in  the  water. 
When  the  garfish  leaps  for  the  lure  he 
gets  his  curved  teeth  entangled  in  the 
sticky  web  and  is  thus  captured. 

-♦ 

Investigators  have  found  small  elec- 
trical differences  between  different 
parts  of  the  human  body,  such  that  a 
"topographical"  map  could  be  con- 
structed showing  areas  of  high  and  low 
potential,  a  pattern  which  is  independ- 
ent of  the  pathological  condition  of  the 
skin,'  nerves,  and  muscles  and  which 
lasts  after  death  up  to  ten  hours  until ' 
rigor  mortis.  Further  work  has  led 
Fritz  Munk  to  suggest  that  catching  cold 


is  due  to  a  disturbance  of  the  normal 
electrical  condition  of  the  skin  and  not 
in  the  heat-regulating  system,  since 
sneezing  temporarily  restores  the  dis- 
turbed electrical  condition  of  the  skin 
when  a  person  is  "catching  cold." 

4 

rTTHE  largest  observed  comet  had  a 
total  mass  less  than  a  millionth  that 
of  the  earth  and  no  change  in  the  mo- 
tion of  the  earth  by  the  gravitational 
pull  of  the  comet  coming  near  the  earth 
has  ever  been  measured.  The  comet 
which  has  approached  closest  to  the 
earth  was  still  four  times  as  far  away 
as  the  sun. 

> 

Tf  oat  seedlings  are  soaked  in  water 
A  through  which  oxygen  is  bubbled  for 
a  day  before  planting,  the  growth 
of  the  seed  upon  later  planting  is  al- 
most completely  stopped,  compared 
with  those  where  air  is  bubbled 
through.  Nitrogen  gives  almost  the 
same  results  as  air. 

> 

"plNELY  cut  garbage  has  been  found  to 
be  a  good  fertilizer. 


"Decords  of  smallpox  extend  back  as 
**■  far  as  1000  B.  C.  in  China. 


""P'he  area  of  surface  in  the  human 
lungs  is  almost  five  hundred  square 
yards. 


TEiEFACT 


PICTOGRAPH  CORPORATION 
SCIENCE  SERVICE  7.24.2 


PRODUCTION  OF  DEHYDRATED  FOOD 

*     GROWS  RAPIDLY 


1939 


1941 


1942 

(EST.) 


Each  symbol  represents  5,000,000  lbs. 


678 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


TO    UTAH    FARMERS 


E.  J.  Erekson  of  Payson,  Utah,  has 
one  of  the  most  modern,  streamlined 
poultry  farms  in  the  inter-mountain 
states.  His  setup  includes  6  acres  of 
rocky  bench  land  where  his  laying 
flock  produces,  and  a  47-acre  farm, 
partly  in  orchard,  where  the  young 
pullets  are  kept.  Current  egg  produc- 
tion varies  from  14  cases  weekly  (30 
dozen  eggs  per  case)  in  late  summer 
to  45  cases  weekly  during  peak  laying 
in  the  spring. 

For  the  past  8  years  Mr.  Erekson 
has  served  as  a  director  of  the  Utah 
Poultry  Producers  Cooperative  Asso- 
ciation and  was  its  president  in  1937. 

"Fortunately  our  Association  is  one 
of  the  best  managed  farm  co-ops  in 
the  country,"  Mr.  Erekson  told  me. 
"Even  so,  we  have  our  marketing 


A 

Safeway 

Farm  Reporter 
Advertisement 


problems,  particularly 
in  the  spring  when 
heavy  laying  piles  up 
the  egg  supply  and 
threatens  prices. 

"Regularly  during  such  periods 
we've  had  help  from  Safeway  and 
other  food  chains  on  a  generous,  really 
important  scale.  They've  used  special 
advertising  and  big  store  posters  to 
increase  egg  buying  —  featured  the 
Springtime  Egg  Festival. 

"The  Safeway  method  of  direct  sell- 
ing also  appeals  to  me.  Eggs  for  ex- 
ample— Safeway  demands  high  qual- 
ity eggs  and  pays  top  prices  for  them. 
Then  they  deliver  to  consumers  by  the 
quickest,  least  expensive  route,  which 
saves  folks  plenty  of  money." 

Your  Safeway  Farm  Reporter 


AT  10,  2  AND  5:30 


In  six  large  laying  coops  likethis,E.J. 
Erekson  maintains  about  3000  laying 
hens — highly  nervous  White  Leghorns 
which  produce  best  on  strict  routine. 
"We  gather  the  eggs  three  times  daily 
— in  summer,  at  10  a.  m.,  2  p.m.  and 
5 :30  p.  m.,  and  in  winter,  at  9 : 30  a.  m., 
2  p.  m.  and  4  p.  m.,"  Mr.  Erekson  ex- 
plained to  me.  "If  I  varied  my  routine 
as  little  as  half  an  hour  my  hens  would 
probably  go  off  their  lay  for  several 
days.  Collecting  three  times  daily  al- 
lows cooling  of  the  eggs  soon  after  they 
are  laid,  and  that's  important  for  qual- 
ity. My  hens  stay  in  the  laying  coops." 


Each  spring  the  Ereksons  buy  about  2400  best 
grade  sexed  chicks  as  replacements  for  the 
laying  flock.  After  9  or  10  weeks  in  the  brood- 
er house,  the  pullets  are  put  in  screened  frames 
and  allowed  to  range  an  apple  orchard 


Advertising  and  selling 
support  for  eggs  given  by 
Safeway  is  a  big  help  to  his 
Association,  reports  Mr. 
Erekson.  Shown  here  is  a 
typical  Safeway  poster  pro- 
moting sales  to  consumers 

Floyd  Harmer  manages  the 
Payson  branch  of  the  Utah 
Poultry  Producers  Cooper- 
ative Association  where 
Mr.  Erekson's  eggs  are 
graded,  packed  and  shipped 


679 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


Let  us 


WINTERIZE 

Your  Car 


— to   keep   it   in   safe    condition, 
now  more  important  than  everl 

The  government  wants  motorists  to  continue  using  their 
cars  for  essential  transportation. 

No  matter  how  much  or  how  little  you  drive  this  winter, 
you  want  to  protect  your  car  against  the  rigors  of  cold 
weather. 

So  drive  in  and  let  us  give  it  that  protection. 

Our  14-point  Winterizing  service  takes  care  of  every  vital 
part — from  radiator  to  differential.  The  cost  is  small.  It 
will  safeguard  one  of  your  most  valuable  possessions.  Don't 
delay.  Have  this  important  service  performed  now,  before 
real  cold  weather  sets  in. 


(Djuvsl  ift  at  ihhu 

ShpLJ$.  S&JW1XJL 

CAR  CONSERVATION 
HEADQUARTERS 


IH  PEtf°Y 


Utah  Oil  Refining  Company  Stations  and  Dealers  in  Its  Products 

Everywhere  in  Utah  and  Idaho 

CARE  FOR  YOUR  CAR— FOR  YOUR  COUNTRY 


m 


t 
i 

i 
>' 
f 
t 
t 
t 
t 
t 
t 
\ 
t 
t 


^5i 


NORTH  SALT  LAKE 

YOUR  EVERYDAY  CASH  MARKET  FOR 

CATTLE,  HOGS  -*»  SHEEP 

The    following   bonded    Commission   Firms   operate    on 
our  market  and   are   ready  to   serve  you  at  all   times. 

PRODUCERS'  LIVESTOCK  MARKET  ASS'N. 
UTAH   LIVESTOCK   COMMISSION   CO. 

SALT  LAKE  UNION  STOCK  YARDS 

NORTH  SALT  LAKE,  UTAH 


ggggg 


*  m  o  *  ft«>**«««ft*»it«m 


i  m w vv m 


g5SSS5555ggS5 


WtuAk, 


FORUM  FOR  CHURCH  MUSICIANS 

Btf  Alexander  Schveinet 
Tabernacle    Organist   and   Member 
Church   Music  Committee 

'"Hhe  general  music  committee  of  the 
Church  is  eager  to  establish  a  more 
intimate  connection  with  the  music 
workers  throughout  the  Church.  It 
desires  to  hear  from  choir  leaders,  or- 
ganists, and  others  interested  in  church 
music,  concerning  their  work,  their  suc- 
cesses, their  problems,  and  difficulties. 
It  is  believed  that  a  discussion  of  their 
work  on  this  page  in  answer  to  their  let- 
ters will  be  of  general  interest  and  bene- 
fit. It  is  hoped  that  many  ward  musi- 
cians will  participate  by  writing  to  the 
General  Music  Committee,  200  North 
Main  Street,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah. 

The  committee  should^  like  to  re- 
ceive letters  concerning  any  and  all 
phases  of  music  work.  Perhaps  a  cer- 
tain problem  has  been  solved.  Tell  us 
about  it.  If  some  one  thing  is  being 
done  in  a  superior  way,  perhaps  it 
should  be  adopted  generally.  Let  us 
know  about  it.  Such  letters  will  be  dis- 
cussed on  this  page,  and  all  readers 
will  benefit  by  the  experience  pre- 
sented. Any  unusual  service  rendered 
to  the  Church  by  music  organizations 
or  their  members  should  be  reported. 
Perhaps  a  choir  has  a  growing  nest  egg 
which  at  some  future  time  is  to  be  used 
for  the  purchase  of  a  new  reed  organ, 
or  piano,  or  other  musical  instrument, 
or  for  an  addition  to  the  chapel  in  the 
form  of  a  choir  room  where  the  choir 
can  rehearse  during  cold  winter  months. 

Photographs  will  be  welcome,  es- 
pecially of  successful  ward  choirs.  Give 
a  list  of  names  of  those  in  the  photo- 
graph, together  with  names  of  officers, 
ward  and  stake,  and  the  date  of  the 
photograph.  These  may  be  old  or  new. 
The  older  or  the  newer,  the  better.  Such 
photographs  would  be  a  pleasing  fea- 
ture on  this  page  every  month. 

Now  what  are  some  church  music 
problems?  First,  keeping  the  choir 
members  happy  and  active  and  provid- 
ing them  with  new  and  interesting  music 
which  they  will  like  to  sing.  Second, 
playing  and  directing  congregational 
singing  in  the  most  effective  way,  so 
that  it  may  be  a  prayer  rather  than 
something  to  be  hurried  through.  Third, 
playing  the  prelude  and  the  postlude, 
and  obtaining  a  devotional  spirit  in  the 
congregation  during  the  prelude. 
Fourth,  adhering  to  the  rule  that  all 
music  for  the  Sabbath  day  services  be 
sacred,  and  requesting  that  visiting 
singers  and  instrumentalists  be  pre- 
pared to  offer  sacred  selections.  Fifth, 
keeping  instruments  in  good  repair. 
Write  to  the  music  committee  if  you 
have  suggestions  for  solving  these 
problems  or  if  you  need  help  concern- 
ing them. 

(Concluded  on  page  729) 


680 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,    NOVEMBER,   1942 

America  will  always  Need  the 
Eeet   Sugar   Industry 

FOR  over  a  half  century  the  beet  sugar  industry  has  been  providing  Inter- 
mountain  states  with  the  finest  sugar  obtainable.  During  this  time  the 
sugar  beet  harvest  from  tens  of  thousands  of  fertile  acres  has  been  turned  into 
sparkling  white  sugar.  More  than  a  half  million  dollars  revenue  from  this  "white 
gold"  has  poured  into  the  pockets  of  our  Intermountain  farmers,  factory  workers, 
railroad  employees,  livestock  growers,  merchants,  and  taxpayers  during  the  last 
fifty  years.  Taxes  and  revenue  from  the  beet  sugar  industry  have  helped  create 
whole  new  communities,  have  helped  build  schools  and  highways,  and  have  bene- 
fitted every  man,  woman,  and  child  in  the  states  in  which  factories  are  operating. 

Domestic  Eeet  Sugar  to  Serve  36  States 

BUT  today  the  domestic  beet  sugar  industry  is  assuming  an  even  greater  im- 
portance. Before  Pearl  Harbor,  sugar  beets  supplied  less  than  one-fourth 
of  the  nation's  sugar.  Now  the  beet  sugar  industry  of  the  West  along  with  the 
West-coast  cane  refineries  has  been  drafted  to  supply  all  the  sugar  for  30  states, 
plus  sizeable  portions  of  six  others.  This  is  a  great  responsibility,  but  one  that 
Intermountain  farmers  and  factory  workers,  with  the  help  of  our  local  communi- 
ties, will  meet  as  one  more  contribution  toward  winning  the  war.  Western  beet 
growers  and  processors  will  do  everything  in  their  power  to  keep  the  nation  sup- 
plied with  an  adequate  amount  of  sugar  to  meet  both  military  and  civilian  needs. 


Energy  for  tiome~Front  -  - .  and  Battle  Front 


Sugar  is  your  cheapest  and  best  quick-energy  food. 
It's  a  food  we  all  need  to  give  us  the  quick  energy 
that  will  help  win  the  war  both  on  the  battlefront  and 
on  the  home-production  front. 

There's  no  finer  sugar  made  anywhere  than  U  and  I 
Sugar  .  .  .  grown  and  processed  right  here  in  the 


Intermountain  West.  Don't  waste  this  sugar,  but 
use  whatever  you  are  allowed  under  the  rationing 
plan.  U  and  I  all-purpose  sugar  is  the  very  best  you 
can  get  for  cooking,  canning,  and  all  sweetening. 
Ask  for  it  at  your  grocers  when  you  get  your  next 
ration. 


UTAH-IDAHO  SUGAR  CO. 


681 


THE    IMPROVEMENT    ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


■jftnmtm*  "Zfz6&+]tc^ 


We  know  they  would  approve 


Around  the  northern  end  of  Great  Salt  Lake 
in  Utah  are  120  miles  of  railroad  track.  This 
track  has  been  but  infrequently  used,  and 
then  for  local  purposes,  since  the  Lucin  Cause- 
way across  Great  Salt  Lake  was  completed  in 
1904.  Yet  every  mile  of  it  is  a  thrilling  chapter 
in  the  saga  of  the  West.  It  was  here  that  Cen- 
tral Pacific*  workmen,  racing  with  the  Union 
Pacific,  laid  ten  miles  of  track 
in  less  than  twelve  hours 


-a 


record  that  has  never  been 
equalled.  And  it  was  here  at 
Promontory,  on  May  10, 1869, 

*Now  Southern  Pacific 


that  the  Golden  Spike  was  driven  to  complete 
America's  first  transcontinental  railroad,  a 
pioneer  national  defense  project.  Now  the 
Government  is  taking  up  the  track  in  order 
to  use  the  rail  for  essential  defense  facilities. 
Thus  about  13,000  gross  tons  of  rail  will  be 
made  available  for  national  wartime  use  .  .  . 
and  yet  it  is  like  tearing  a  deathless  page  from 

the  history  of  the  West.  But 
if  the  pioneers  who  suffered 
untold  hardships  to  build  this 
line  were  here  today,  we  know 
they  would  heartily  approve. 


PROMONTORY 


„CORINNE 


UTAH 


The  War  Bonds 

you  buy  now  will  be 

a  nice  nest-egg 

for  the  future. 


S*P 


The  Friendly  Southern  Pacific 


An  $18.75  War  Bond 

will  buy 

145  rounds  of 

50  caliber 

ammunition. 


682 


Photograph   by   H.   Armstrong  Roberts 


...1 


It  is  not  right  that  any  man  should  be  in  bondage 
one  to  another.  And  for  this  purpose  have  I  established 
the  Constitution  of  this  land,  by  the  hands  of  wise  men 
whom  I  raised  up  unto  this  very  purpose.  .  .  . 

(Doctrine  and  Covenants  101:79,  80) 


M 


Lave  mercy,  O  Lord,  upon  all  the  nations  of  the 
earth;  have  mercy  upon  the  rulers  of  our  land;  may  those 
principles,  which  were  so  honorably  and  nobly  defend- 
ed, namely,  the  Constitution  of  our  land,  by  our  fathers, 

be  established  forever.  (Doctrine  and  Covenants  109:54) 


I 


OR  behold,  this  is  a  land  which  is  choice  above 
all  other  lands;  wherefore  he  that  doth  possess  it  shall 
serve  God  or  shall  be  swept  off;  for  it  is  the  everlasting 

decree  of  God.  (Book  of  Mormon,  Ether  2:10) 


683 


'See  that  woman? — I'd 

swear  she  buys  a  different 
laundry  soap  every  week." 


'Know  how  she  buys? — She  comes  in  and  asks  me, 
'Which  one's  having  a  sale  today?'  So  I  tell  her  and  out 
she  goes,  pleased  as  Punch,  with  a  bagful  of 
bargains.  .  .  .  And  next  week  she's  back  again 
— buying  somebody  else's  soap." 


7afoi..4fcd0q&? 


"Some  day  she'll  try  Fels-Naptha  Soap 
and  shell  be  done  with  all  that. 
Instead  of  saving  pennies  here,      PS'Nftrll 
she'll  save  dollars  at  home 


you  wait  ana  see 


>» 


684 


OdckxL  9njfamcrfhtL 

"THE 

ABSTRACTED 

INDIAN 

TRUST  BONDS 


// 


The  following  letter  from  How- 
ard S.  Bennion,  president  of 
the  New  York  Stake,  and  also 
a  major  in  the  reserve  of  the  United 
States  army,  throws  additional  light 
on  the  situation  that  prevailed  in 
high  government  circles  during  the 
period  immediately  preceding  the 
Civil  War: 

New  York  City. 

"Dear  Brother  Widtsoe: 

"The  articles  entitled  'The  Ab- 
stracted Indian  Bonds,'  by  M.  H.  Can- 
non, appearing  in  the  July  and  August 
issues  of  The  Improvement  Era,  call 
to  my  mind  teachings  of  the  Professor 
of  [Civil  and]  Military  Engineering  at 
West  Point  some  thirty  years  ago 
which  cast  light  on  the  expedition  of 
Johnston's  Army  to  Utah  in  1857.  [This 
colonel  was  Gustave  Joseph  Fiebeger, 
who  assumed  that  position  at  West 
Point  in  1896.1  In  the  years  immediate- 
ly preceding  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War,  the  Secretary  of  War  was  Jeffer- 
son Davis,  followed  by  John  B.  Floyd. 

"In  outlining  the  events  preceding 
the  outbreak  of  the  great  struggle,  the 
professor  said  that  the  War  Depart- 
ment, with  the  aid  of  elements  in  Con- 
gress, quietly  but  vigorously  shifted 
army  leaders  and  troops  and  accumu- 
lated armaments  and  stores  of  ammuni- 
tion in  Southern  garrisons  and  arsenals. 
For  fear  this  proceeding  would  be- 
come obvious,  he  said  the  organization 
and  dispatch  of  a  sizable  military  ex- 
pedition against  the  Mormons  was 
seized  upon  as  a  diversion,  a  distrac- 
tion, to  cover  the  war  preparation. 

"The  financial  manipulations  of  Sec- 
retary Floyd  had  much  more  point 
than  ordinary  graft  and  peculation. 
His  department  of  government  was 
being  used  to  help  finance  and  set  the 
stage  for  a  great  rebellion.  Stories 
against  the  Mormons  came  at  an  op- 
portune time  for  this.  The  Utah  ex- 
pedition was  incidental. 

"Sincerely  your  brother, 

H.  S.  Bennion." 


to-portrait  of  President  Heber  J.  Grant 


EIGHTY-SIX  YEARS  IN  LIFE 
SIXTY  YEARS  AN  APOSTLE 
TWENTY-FOUR  YEARS  AS  PRESIDENT 

November  22,  1942,  marks  the  eighty-sixth  anni- 
versary of  the  birth  of  President  Heber  J.  Grant. 

October  \6,  1942,  marks  the  sixtieth  anniversary  of 
President  Grant's  service  as  an  apostle. 

November  23,  1942,  marks  the  twenty-fourth  anni- 
versary of  President  Grant's  administration  as  President 
of  the  Church. 

In  this  notable  lifetime  President  Grant  has  shown 
qualities  of  character  of  leadership  which  will  cause 
him  to  be  remembered  among  the  great  names  of  all 
time — qualities  which  have  blessed  his  own  generation 
and  will  yet  bless  generations  to  come.  His  fearless 
frankness,  his  willingness  to  counsel,  his  generosity,  his 
worthy  family,  his  hatred  of  evil,  his  forgiving  spirit, 
and  his  humility  before  the  things  of  God  are  a  few 
of  the  innumerable  things  that  have  endeared  him  to 
honorable  men  everywhere  and  that  have  made  his  life 
a  living  evidence  of  what  he  has  preached  and  stood  for. 

In  his  conference  address,  read  by  President  McKay 
at  the  Saturday  afternoon  session,  President  Grant 
tells  the  story  of  his  call  to  the  apostleship,  which  ad- 
dress appears  in  full,  beginning  on  this  page.  — R.  L.  E. 


TThj.  falL  to  JthL 

&pDAilsi&hjLfL 

By  PRESIDENT  HEBER  J.  GRANT 


Address  presented  at  the  second  session  of  the 

\\3th  Semiannual  General  Conference,  in  the 

Tabernacle,  Saturday,  October  3,   1942 


I  am  grateful  beyond  my  power  of  expression  for 
the  faith  and  prayers  of  the  people  and  for  the 
blessings  of  the  Lord  in  my  behalf.  For  two 
and  one-half  years  I  have  been  gaining  a  little 
since  I  became  ill,  I  have  been  home  since  that 
illness  overtook  me  a  little  longer  than  two  years, 
and  when  people  have  asked  me  how  I  am,  I  have 
said,  "Better  than  I  was  yesterday,"  and  this  is 
really  true — I  have  been  gaining  a  little  all  the  time. 
To  begin  with  I  could  not  move  my  left  leg  or  my 
left  arm.  The  doctors  said  it  was  not  a  paralytic 
stroke,  but  it  must  have  been  at  least  a  second  cousin 
to  it.  I  could  walk  upstairs  only  one  step  at 
a  time  and  drag  my  left  leg  up.  Now,  I  can  walk 
up  and  down  stairs.  I  can  walk  across  the  floor 
without  scraping  my  foot  on  the  carpet;  I  can  throw 
my  left  leg  over  my  right  one  with  perfect  ease,  and 
back  again;  my  improvement  is  very  remarkable 
considering  the  condition  I  was  in,  and  I  attribute 
it  to  the  prayers  of  the  Saints  in  my  behalf.  I  am 
grateful  to  them  beyond  expression,  and  I  am  grate- 
ful to  the  doctors  who  have  so  very  kindly  taken 
care  of  me  in  California  and  here  at  home.  I  am 
truly  appreciative  of  the  interest  they  have  taken 
in  my  behalf.    I  feel  almost  normal. 

I  have  decided  to  tell  in  detail  one  or  two  very 
remarkable  things  that  have  happened  in  my  life. 

I  was  made  one  of  the  apostles  in  October,  1 882. 
On  the  6th  of  October,  1882,  I  met  Brother  George 
Teasdale  at  the  south  gate  of  the  temple.  His  face 
lit  up,  and  he  said:  "Brother  Grant,  you  and  I" — 
very  enthusiastically — and  then  he  commenced 
coughing  and  choking,  and  went  on  into  meeting 
and  did  not  finish  his  sentence.  It  came  to  me  as 
plainly  as  though  he  had  said  the  words;  "Are  go- 
ing to  be  chosen  this  afternoon  to>  fill  the  vacancies 
in  the  Quorum  of  the  Twelve  Apostles." 

I  went  to  the  meeting  and  my  head  swelled,  and 
I  thought  to  myself,  "Well,  I  am  going  to  be  one  of 
the  apostles,"  and  I  was  willing  to  vote  for  myself, 
but  the  conference  adjourned  without  anyone  be- 
ing chosen. 

Ten  days  later  I  received  a  telegram  saying,  "You 
must  be  in  Salt  Lake  tomorrow  without  fail."  I 
was  then  president  of  Tooele  Stake.  The  telegram 
came  from  my  partner,  Nephi  W.  Clayton.    When 

(Continued  on  page  754) 


685 


JhsL  MESSAGE  jofciha. 
FIRST  PRESIDENCY 
JbthL  CHURCH 


To  the  Saints  in  every  land  and 
clime  we  send  our  love  and 
greetings  and  say  unto  you: 
May  the  Peace  of  Christ  which 
passeth  human  understanding  enter 
your  souls  and  be  and  abide  with 
you  always.  During  the  coming 
winter,  may  the  Lord  in  His  wis- 
dom, give  food  to  the  hungry,  rai- 
ment to  the  unclothed,  heat  and  shel- 
ter to  those  who  are  cold;  may  His 
Spirit  bring  comfort  to  the  broken 
hearts,  bind  up  the  aching  wounds, 
heal  those  who  are  sick,  preserve 
from  plague  and  pestilence  those 
who  are  victims  of  this  worldwide 
holocaust. 

Our  Testimonies 

\X7e  again  bear  you  our  testimony: 
that  God  lives  and  that  He 
loves  those  who  keep  His  com- 
mandments and  walk  in  His  ways; 
that  Christ,  His  Only  Begotten, 
came  to  earth  and  lived  His  mission 
through,  that  He  was  crucified,  died, 
the  Lamb  of  God  sacrificed  for  the 
sins  of  the  world,  and  after  three 
days  came  forth  from  the  tomb,  a  re- 
surrected being,  thereby  making  the 
Atonement  which  brings  the  bless- 
ing of  a  resurrection  to  all  God's 
children;  that  Joseph  Smith  was  a 
prophet  of  God,  raised  up  to  usher 
in  this  the  last  dispensation  of  the 
fulness  of  times,  and  to  bring  about 
the  restoration  of  the  fulness  of  the 
everlasting  gospel  and  the  Holy 
Priesthood  of  God,  lost  to  earth 
through  the  wickedness  of  men. 

We  bear  witness  that  this  is  the 
one  true  Church  of  the  Christ,  and 
that  except  through  it  and  the  fol- 
lowing of  the  teachings  and  com- 
mandments it  proclaims,  men  may 
not  reach  the  highest  exaltation  in 
the  eternities  to  come. 

We  say  unto  you  that  in  the  dark- 
est hours  of  these  days  of  dread, 
tumult,  and  woe,  the  Lord  is  near  to 
us,  that  He  mourns  over  the  iniqui- 
ties and  the  sorrows  of  His  children, 
that  He  would  lead  us  into  paths  of 
peace  if  we  would  but  follow  Him; 
that  He  holds  in  His  loving  hands, 
nurtured  by  His  boundless  mercy, 
every  one  who  lives  righteously,  and 
686 


Read  by  President  ].  Reuben  Clark,  Jr.,  at  the  first  session 
of  the  \\3th  Semi-annual  Conference,  Saturday,  October 
3,  1942,  in  the  Tabernacle,  Temple  Square,  Salt  Lake  City. 


YJ\Te  bear  witness  that  this  is  the  one  true 
Church  of  the  Christ,  and  that  except 
through  it  and  the  following  of  the  teachings 
and  commandments  it  proclaims,  men  may  not 
reach  the  highest  exaltation  in  the  eternities 

TO  COME. 


'T'HE  DOCTRINE  OF  THIS  CHURCH  IS  THAT  SEXUAL  SIN 

— THE    ILLICIT    SEXUAL    RELATIONS    OF    MEN    AND 

WOMEN — STANDS,  IN  ITS  ENORMITY,  NEXT  TO  MURDER. 


who  seeks  His  protection;  that  He 
listens  and  hearkens  to  those  who, 
having  pure  hearts  and  contrite 
spirits,  come  to  Him  with  prayers  of 
unshaking  faith.  He  stands  today 
ready  as  always  to  gather  us  in, 
"even  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chick- 
ens under  her  wings,"  would  we  but 
yield  our  lives  in  righteous  service 
to  Him. 

Drink  and  the  Word  of  Wisdom 

HPhe  world  is  smitten,  nigh  unto 
death,  with  great  and  grievous 
tribulations,  following  the  commis- 
sion of  cardinal  sins. 

Over  the  earth,  and  it  seems  par- 
ticularly in  America,  the  demon 
drink  is  in  control.  Drunken  with 
strong  drink,  men  have  lost  their 
reason;  their  counsel  has  been  des- 
troyed; their  judgment  and  vision 
are  fled;  they  reel  forward  to  de- 
struction. 

Drink  brings  cruelty  into  the 
home;  it  walks  arm  in  arm  with 
poverty;  its  companions  are  disease 
and  plague;  it  puts  chastity  to  flight; 
it  knows  neither  honesty  nor  fair 
dealing;  it  is  a  total  stranger  to 
truth;  it  drowns  conscience;  it  is  the 
bodyguard  of  evil;  it  curses  all  who 
touch  it. 


Drink  has  brought  more  woe  and 
misery,  broken  more  hearts,  wrecked 
more  homes,  committed  more 
crimes,  filled  more  coffins,  than  all 
the  wars  the  world  has  suffered. 

Therefore,  we  thank  the  faithful 
Saints  for  their  observance  of  the 
Word  of  Wisdom,  for  their  putting 
aside  of  drink.  The  Lord  is  pleased 
with  you.  You  have  been  a  bulwark 
of  strength  to  this  people  and  to  the 
world.  Your  influence  has  been  for 
righteousness.  The  Lord  will  not 
forget  your  good  works  when  you 
stand  before  Him  in  judgment.  He 
has  blessed  and  will  continue  to 
bless  you  with  the  blessings  He 
promised  to  those  who  obey  this 
divine  law  of  health.  We  invoke 
the  mercies  of  the  Lord  upon  you 
that  you  may  continue  strong  in 
spirit,  to  cast  off  temptation  and 
continue  teachers  to  the  youth  of 
Zion  by  word  and  deed. 

But  so  great  is  the  curse  of  drink 
that  we  should  not  be  held  guiltless 
did  we  not  call  upon  all  offending 
Saints  to  forsake  it  and  banish  it 
from  their  lives  forever. 

God  has  spoken  against  drink  in 
our  day,  and  has  given  to  this,  the 
Lord's  own  Church,  a  specific  reve- 
lation concerning  it,  as  a  word  of 
wisdom  by  revelation — 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


That  inasmuch  as  any  man  drinketh  wine 
or  strong  drink  among  you,  behold  it  is  not 
good,  neither  meet  in  the  sight  of  your  Fa- 
ther .  .  . 

And,  again,  strong  drinks  are  not  for  the 
belly,  but  for  the  washing  of  your  bodies. — 
(D.  &  C.  89:5,  7) 

This  declares  the  divine  wisdom.  It 
is  God's  law  of  health,  and  is  binding 
upon  each  and  every  one  of  us.  We 
cannot  escape  its  operation,  for  it  is 
based  upon  eternal  truth.  Men  may 
agree  or  disagree  about  this  word  of 
the  Lord;  if  they  agree,  it  adds  noth- 
ing; if  they  disagree,  it  means  nothing. 
Beyond  His  word  we  cannot  reach, 
and  it  is  enough  for  every  Latter-day 
Saint,  willing  and  trying  to  follow 
divine  guidance. 

For  more  than  half  a  century  Presi- 
dent Grant  has  on  every  appropriate 
occasion  admonished  the  Saints  touch- 
ing their  obligation  to  keep  the  Word 
of  Wisdom.  He  has  told  them  what 
it  means  to  them  in  matters  of  health, 
quoting  the  words  of  the  Lord  there- 
on. He  has  pointed  out  that  treasures 
of  knowledge,  even  hidden  knowledge, 
would  come  to  those  who  lived  the  law. 
He  has,  over  and  over  again,  shown 
what  it  would  mean  financially  to 
every  member  who  would  keep  the 
law,  what  it  would  mean  financially  to 
our  people,  and  what  it  would  mean 
financially  to  a  nation.  He  has  told 
us  what  it  would  mean  in  ending  hu- 
man woes,  misery,  sorrow,  disease, 
crime,  and  death.  But  his  admonitions 
have  not  found  a  resting  place  in  all 
our  hearts. 

We,  the  First  Presidency  of  the 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints,  now  solemnly  renew  all  these 
counsels,  we  repeat  all  these  admoni- 
tions, we  reinvoke  obedience  to  God's 


law  of  health  given  us  by  God  Him- 
self. 

We  repeat  here  the  directions  here- 
tofore given  by  President  Grant:  We 
ask  that  every  General  Authority, 
every  stake  and  ward  officer,  every  of- 
ficer of  Priesthood  quorums,  every  aux- 
iliary officer  in  ward,  stake,  or  general 
board,  every  president  of  mission, 
every  regular  or  stake  missionary,  in 
short,  every  officer  in  every  Church  or- 
ganization, strictly  to  keep  the  Word 
of  Wisdom  from  this  moment  forward. 
If  any  feels  too  weak  to  do  this,  we 
must  ask  him  to  step  aside  for  some 
one  who  is  willing  and  able  so  to  do, 
for  there  are  thousands  of  Latter-day 
Saints  who  are  willing  to  obey  the  com- 
mandments and  who  are  able  to  carry 
on  the  work  of  the  Lord. 

We  ask  all  Church  presiding  officers 
immediately  to  set  their  official  houses 
in  order. 

The  Lord  will  not  otherwise  fully 
prosper  us  in  our  service  in  His  cause, 
wherefore  we  shall  stand  accused  before 
Him  that  we  walked  not  in  ithe  lead 
of  His  flock  in  the  full  stature  of 
worthy,  righteous  example.  Further- 
more, we  make  a  like  call  upon  all 
these  officers  to  keep  also  the  law  of 
tithing,  to  live  the  law  of  strictest 
chastity,  and  to  observe  and  do  the 
commandments  of  the  Lord. 

That  in  these  dire  days,  we  may, 
each  in  his  own  place,  enjoy  the  abun- 
dant physical  blessings  of  the  righteous 
life,  we  call  upon  all  true  Latter-day 
Saints,  in  or  out  of  office,  to  keep  this 
law  of  health, — completely  to  give  up 
drink,  to  quit  using  tobacco,  which  all 
too  often  leads  to  drink,  to  abandon  hot 
drinks  and  the  use  of  harmful  drugs, 
and  otherwise  to  observe  the  Word  of 
Wisdom.     We  urge  the  Saints  to  quit 


trifling  with  this  law  and  so  to  live  it 
that  we  may  claim  its  promises. 

Upon  you  parents,  laden  with  the 
divinely  imposed  responsibility  of  guid- 
ing pure,  eternal  spirits  through  the 
early  years  of  their  earth  existence,  we 
urge  a  faithful  performance  of  your 
sacred  duty,  to  teach  this  law  of  health 
to  your  children  both  by  precept  and 
example.  Of  a  surety  the  Lord  will  not 
hold  us  guiltless  if  we  fail  one  whit  in 
guarding,  protecting,  and  guiding  these 
innocent  and  precious  souls  on  their 
way  to  exaltation. 

Parents,  these  are  not  the  times  for 
weak  attempts  and  half  measures,  but 
for  the  full  strength  of  righteous,  pray- 
erful, God-fearing  effort  to  walk  our- 
selves, and  to  lead  our  children,  along 
the  paths  of  sobriety  and  chastity. 

How  great  are  the  blessings  prom- 
ised to  those  who  observe  the  law: 

And  all  saints  who  remember  to  keep  and 
do  these  sayings,  walking  in  obedience  to 
the  commandments,  shall  receive  health  in 
their  navel  and  marrow  to  their  bones; 

And  shall  find  wisdom  and  great  treasures 
of  knowledge,  even  hidden  treasures; 

And  shall  run  and  not  be  weary,  and  shall 
walk  and  not  faint. 

And  I,  the  Lord,  give  unto  them  a  promise, 
that  the  destroying  angel  shall  pass  by  them, 
as  the  children  of  Israel,  and  not  slay  them. 
(D.  &C.  89:18-21) 

When,  as  the  Lord  Himself  has  de- 
clared, plague,  pestilence,  famine,  and 
death  shall  be  poured  out  upon  the  na- 
tions for  their  wickedness,  and  when 
these  shall  break  over  our  heads  and 
our  loved  ones  are  smitten  nigh  to 
death,  when  hearts  are  torn  and  the 
anguish  of  grief  almost  overwhelms 
(Continued  on  page  757) 


THE  FIRST  PRESIDENCY 

President  Heber  J.  Grant,  Center;  J.  Reuben 
Clark,  Jr.,  first  counselor,  left;  David  0.  McKay, 
second  counselor,  right. 


687 


PRIVATE  OWNERSHIP 


By  J.  REUBEN  CLARK,  JR. 

of  the  First  Presidency 


B 


PRESIDENT  J.  REUBEN  CLARK,  JR. 


Delivered    at    the    Saturday    Evening 
Session  of  the  \\3th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,   in 
the  Tabernacle. 

BRETHREN: 
I  have  been  trying  for  a  week 
to  relieve  you  of  this  experi- 
ence, but  Brother  McKay,  so  kind, 
so  sweet,  and  so  merciful,  has  been 
perfectly  adamant.  So  I  stand  be- 
fore you  here,  not  to  preach,  but  to 
counsel  with  you. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  misappre- 
hension among  our  people  regarding 
the  United  Order. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  believe 
that  the  United  Order  meant  what 
some  people  have  thought  it  meant, 
so  within  the  last  months  I  have  spent 
quite  a  little  time  reading  the  revela- 
tions thereon,  also  reading  our  his- 
tory, and  at  the  same  time  giving 
some  consideration  to  a  dissertation 
which  has  been  written  regarding  the 
Order. 

There  is  a  growing — I  fear  it  is 
growing — sentiment  that  commun- 
ism and  the  United  Order  are  virtu- 
ally the  same  thing,  communism  be- 
ing merely  the  forerunner,  so  to 
speak,  of  a  reestablishment  of  the 
United  Order.  I  am  informed  that 
ex-bishops,  and  indeed,  bishops,  who 
belong  to  communistic  organizations, 
are  preaching  this  doctrine.  So  I 
thought  that  perhaps  if  I  said  just 
a  few  words  to  you  tonight  regard- 
ing the  way  I  interpret  the  revela- 
tions that  are  printed  about  this  in 
the  Doctrine  and  Covenants  (if 
there  are  other  revelations  about  the 
688 


ASIC  TO  THE  UNITED  ORDER  WAS  THE  PRI- 
VATE OWNERSHIP   OF   PROPERTY.    .    .    . 


Perhaps  .  .  .  when  the  welfare  plan 
gets  thoroughly  into  operation  ,  .  . 
we  shall  not  be  so  very  far  from  carry- 
ing out  the  great  fundamentals  of  the 
united  order. 


|F  THE  WELFARE  PLAN  IS  FULLY  OPERATIVE, 
WE  SHALL  BE  ABLE  TO  CARE  FOR   EVERY 
DESTITUTE    LATTER-DAY    SAINT    WHEREVER 
HE  MAY  BE. 


.  .  .  To  me  the  Constitution  is  part  of 

MY  RELIGION. 


Order,  I  do  not  know  of  them ) ,  I 
thought  if  I  said  something  about  it, 
it  might  be  helpful.  I  recommend 
that  you,  my  brethren,  read  a  few  of 
the  Sections  of  the  Doctrine  and 
Covenants  which  cover  this  matter, 
beginning  with  Sections  42  and  51. 
(See  also  Sections  70,  78,  82,  83,  85, 
90,  92,  96,  and  1 04. )  If  you  will  go 
over  these  sections,  I  feel  sure  that 
you  will  find  that  my  explanation  of 
the  United  Order  will  be  substanti- 
ally accurate. 

Early  Deviations 

I  may  say  to  begin  with,  that  in 
practice  the  brethren  in  Missouri  got 
away,  in  their  attempts  to  set  up  the 
United  Order,  from  the  principles 
set  out  in  the  revelations.  This  is 
also  true  of  the  organizations  set  up 
here  in  Utah  after  the  Saints  came  to 
the  Valleys.  So  far  as  I  have  seen 
there  has  been  preserved  only  one 
document  that  purports  to  be  a  legal 
instrument  used  in  connection  with 
the  setting  up  of  the  United  Order, 
and  that  document  is  without  date. 
It  is  said  to  have  been  found  among 
the  papers  of  Bishop  Partridge.  It 
was  a  "lease-lend"  document.  You 
may  have  heard  that  phrase  before. 
Under  this  instrument  the  Church 
leased  to  Titus  Billings  a  certain 
amount  of  real  estate  and  loaned  him 


a  certain  amount  of  personal  prop- 
erty.1 

This  instrument  is  not  in  accord- 
ance with  the  principle  laid  down  in 
the  revelations  touching  upon  the 
United  Order. 

The  basic  principle  of  all  the  reve- 
lations on  the  United  Order  is  that 
everything  we  have  belongs  to  the 
Lord;  therefore,  the  Lord  may  call 
upon  us  for  any  and  all  of  the  prop- 
erty which  we  have,  because  it  be- 
longs to  Him.  This,  I  repeat,  is  the 
basic  principle.  (D.  &.  C.  104:14-17, 
54-57) 

One  of  the  places  in  which  some 
of  the  brethren  are  going  astray  is 
this:  There  is  continuous  reference 
in  the  revelations  to  equality  among 
the  brethren,  but  I  think  you  will 
find  only  one  place  where  that  equal- 
ity is  really  described,  though  it  is 
referred  to  in  other  revelations.  That 
revelation  (D.  &  C.  51:3)  affirms 
that  every  man  is  to  be  "equal  ac- 
cording to  his  family,  according  to  his 
circumstances  and  his  wants  and 
needs."  (See  also  D.  &  C.  82:17; 
78:5-6.)  Obviously,  this  is  not  a 
case  of  "dead  level"  equality.  It  is 
"equality"  that  will  vary  as  much  as 
the  man's  circumstances,  his  family, 
his  wants  and  needs,  may  vary. 

]Sraith,   Joseph,   History   of  the  Church,   Vol.   I,   pp. 
365-367. 


> .  und&L  JthsL  QAnihul  G/td&L 

AND  THE  GUARANTEES  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION 


"JJicAsl  idu  a,  qtowdL  jdoaL  o^  jmhjapptehjmAAML 

ihjL  UniisuL  OjidsJc' 


Consecration 

In  the  next  place,  under  the  United 
Order  every  man  was  called  to  con- 
secrate to  the  Church  all  of  the  prop- 
erty which  he  had;  the  real  estate  was 
to  be  conveyed  to  the  Church,  as  I 
understand  the  revelations,  by  what 
we  would  call  a  deed  in  fee  simple. 
Thus  the  man's  property  became  ab- 
solutely the  property  of  the  Church. 
(D.6C.  42:30;  72:15)  Then  the 
bishop  deeded  back  to  the  donor  by 
the  same  kind  of  deed,  that  is,  in  fee 
simple,  and  also  transferred  to  him 
by  an  equivalent  instrument,  so  far 
as  personal  property  was  concerned, 
that  amount  of  real  and  personal 
property,  which,  the  two  being  taken 
together,  would  be  required  by  the 
individual  for  the  support  of  him- 


self and  his  family  "according  to  his 
family,  according  to  his  circum- 
stances and  his  wants  and  needs." 
This  the  man  held  as  his  own  prop- 
erty. (D.  &  C.  42:32;  51:4-6;  83:3) 

In  other  words,  basic  to  the  United 
Order  was  the  private  ownership  of 
property,  every  man  had  his  own 
property  from  which  he  might  se- 
cure that  which  was  necessary  for  the 
support  of  himself  and  his  family. 
There  is  nothing  in  the  revelations 
that  would  indicate  that  this  proper- 
ty was  not  freely  alienable  at  the 
will  of  the  owner.  It  was  not  con- 
templated that  the  Church  should 
own  everything  or  that  we  should  be- 
come in  the  Church,  with  reference 
to  our  property  and  otherwise,  the 
same  kind  of  automaton,  manikin, 


.  .  .  The  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  is  the  basic  law  for  all  of  the 
Americas,  or  Zion,  as  it  has  been  de- 
fined by  the  Lord. 


.  .  .  We  must  have  the  great  guaran- 
tees THAT  ARE  SET  UP  BY  OUR  CONSTITU- 
TION.   There  is  no  other  way  in  which 

WE  CAN  SECURE  THESE  GUARANTEES. 


vou  may  look  at  the  systems  all  over 
the  world  where  the  principles  of 
our  Constitution  are  not  controlling 
and  in  force,  and  you  will  find  there 
dictatorship,  tyranny,  oppression,  and, 
in  the  last  analysis,  slavery. 


fZoD  GIVE  US  WISDOM  AND  ENABLE  US  IN 
THESE  TIMES  OF  TROUBLE  AND  STRIFE 
CLEARLY  TO  SEE  OUR  WAY,  THAT  WE  MAY 
BE  INSTRUMENTAL  IN  SUSTAINING  THE  CON- 
STITUTION, IN  UPHOLDING  OUR  FREE  INSTI- 
TUTIONS, OUR  CIVIL  RIGHTS,  OUR  FREEDOM 
OF  SPEECH,  OF  PRESS,  OF  RELIGION,  AND  OF 
CONSCIENCE. 


that  communism  makes  out  of  the  in- 
dividual, with  the  State  standing  at 
the  head  in  place  of  the  Church. 

Now,  that  part  of  a  man's  prop- 
erty which  was  not  turned  back  to 
him,  if  he  had  more  than  was  needed 
under  this  rule  of  "equality"  already 
stated,  became  the  common  property 
of  the  Church,  and  that  common 
property  was  used  for  the  support  of 
the  poor  of  the  Church.  It  is  spoken 
of  in  the  revelations  as  the  "residue" 
of  property.  (D.  &  C.  42:34-36) 

Land  Portions 

Furthermore,  it  was  intended, 
though  apparently  it  did  not  work 
out  very  well,  that  the  poor  coming 
into  Zion,  and  by  Zion  I  mean,  here, 
Missouri — the  poor  coming  into  Zion 
were  to  have  given  to  them  a  "por- 
tion" of  land,  which  land  was  to  be 
either  purchased  from  the  Govern- 
ment (and  it  was  planned  to  pur- 
chase large  areas  from  the  Govern- 
ment), or  purchased  from  individu- 
als, or  received  as  consecrations 
from  members  of  the  Church.  The 
amount  of  this  "portion"  was  to  be 
such  as  would  make  him  equal  to 
others  according  to  his  circumstan- 
ces, his  family,  his  wants  and  needs. 

The  land  which  you  received  from 
the  bishop  by  deed,  whether  it  was 
part  of  the  land  which  you,  yourself, 
had  deeded  to  the  Church,  or  wheth- 
er it  came  as  an  out-right  gift  from 
the  Church  as  just  indicated,  and  the 
personal  property  which  you  re- 
ceived, were  all  together  sometimes 
called  a  "portion"  ( D.  &  C.  51 :4-6 ) , 
sometimes  a  "stewardship"  (D.  &  C. 
104:11-12),  and  sometimes  an  "in- 
heritance." (D.  &C.  83:3) 

As  just  indicated,  there  were  oth- 
er kinds  of  inheritances  and  stew- 
ardships than  land  or  mere  personal 
property;  for  example,  the  Prophet 
and  others  had  a  stewardship  given 
to  them  which  consisted  of  the  reve- 
lations and  commandments  ( D.  &  C. 
70 : 1  -4 ) ;  others  had  given  to  them  a 
stewardship  involving  the  printing 
house  (D.8C.  104:29-30);  another 
stewardship  was  a  mercantile  estab- 
lishment. (D.SC.  104:39-42) 

Surplus 

I  repeat  that  whatever  a  steward 
realized  from  the  portion  allotted  to 
him  over  and  above  that  which  was 
necessary  in  order  to  keep  his  family 
under  the  standard  provided,  as  al- 
(Continued  on  page  752) 

689 


J**-  Light  that  Shines  in 


Address  delivered  oyer  KSL  and  the 
Columbia  Church  of  the  Air,  from  the 
Salt  Lake  Tabernacle,  Sunday,  October 
4,  1942,  during  the  \\3th  Semiannual 
General  Conference. 


"Wi 


alk  while  ye  have  the  light, 
lest  darkness  come  upon 
you :  for  he  that  walketh  in 
darkness  knoweth  not  whither  he 
goeth." 

That  solicitous  admonition  given 
by  the  Savior  of  men  is  as  pertinent 
today  as  when  it  was  first  expressed. 
Men  and  nations  having  refused  to 
walk  in  the  Light  now  as  Jesus  said 
stumble  in  darkness  and  know  not 
whither  they  go.  Motivated  for  cen- 
turies largely  by  selfish  interests,  the 
human  race,  judging  from  present 
world  conditions,  is  still  dangerously 
near  the  jungle  where  primitive  pas- 
sions dominate  and  govern. 

There  is  a  mythical  Greek  tale 
that  Charon  was  permitted  once  up- 
on a  time  to  visit  the  earth  to  see 
what  men  were  doing.  From  a  lofty 
eminence  he  looked  over  the  cities, 
palaces,  and  other  works  of  men.  As 
he  turned  to  resume  his  assigned 
task,  he  exclaimed:  "These  human 
beings  are  spending  their  time  in 
building  just  birds'  nests.  No  won- 
der they  fail  and  are  ashamed." 

Men  today  in  far  too  great  an  ex- 
tent are  not  only  spending  their  time 
with  things  which  have  no  perma- 
nent value,  but  ruthlessly  destroying 
much  that  they  have  built  through- 
out the  centuries.  War  is  making 
the  earth  a  shambles.  Churches,  pal- 
aces, cottages,  hospitals  in  many 
parts  of  the  globe  lie  in  ruins  as  if 
shaken  by  a  terrible  earthquake.  As 
accompaniment  to  this  destruction 
there  is  a  pall  of  night  which  seems 
to  be  enveloping  nations  as  an  im- 
penetrable fog — a  darkness  that 
springs  from  Hate;  for,  "He  that 
hateth  his  brother  is  in  darkness,  and 
walketh  in  darkness,  and  knoweth 
not  whither  he  goeth,  because  that 
darkness  hath  blinded  his  eyes." 

During  this  very  hour  while  we 
reverently  worship  the  God  of  Heav- 
en, millions  of  men  lie  wounded, 
bleeding,  maimed,  many  disabled  for 
life  by  the  hands  of  their  fellow  men. 
Other  millions  sleep  in  death,  many 
in  unknown  graves,  some  in  no 
graves,  their  bodies  trampled  by  sav- 
age feet  stumbling  forward  toward 
a  coveted  and  selfish  goal.  Not  only 
men  but  women — mothers  lying  life- 
less clasping  their  babes  even  in 
690 


By 

DAVID  O.  McKAY 

of  the  First  Presidency 


PRESIDENT  DAVID  0.  McKAY 

death.  Truly  it  seems  that  "Dark- 
ness covers  the  earth,  and  gross 
darkness  the  people." 

Men  Have  Forgotten  God 

Why  this  worldwide  holocaust? 
Why  this  mad  orgy  of  death?  Be- 
cause man  is  acting  contrary  to 
eternal  principles  of  Right! 

In  words  quite  as  applicable  today 
as  when  he  declared  them,  the  im- 
mortal Lincoln  gives  the  answer  as 
follows : 

We  have  been  the  recipients  of  the  choic- 
est bounties  of  Heaven.  We  have  been 
preserved  these  many  years,  in  peace  and 
prosperity.  We  have  grown  in  numbers, 
wealth,  and  power  as  no  other  nation  has 
ever  grown;  but  we  have  forgotten  God, 
We  have  forgotten  the  gracious  hand  which 
preserved  us  in  peace,  and  multiplied  and 
enriched  and  strengthened  us;  and  we  have 
vainly  imagined,  in  the  deceitfulness  of  our 
hearts,  that  all  these  blessings  were  pro- 
duced by  some  superior  wisdom  and  virtue 
of  our  own.  Intoxicated  with  unbroken  suc- 
cess, we  have  become  too  self-sufficient  to 
feel  the  necessity  of  redeeming  and  preserv- 
ing grace,  too  proud  to  pray  to  God  that 
made  us.     It  behooves  us,  then,  to  humble 


ourselves  before  the  offended  power,  to  con- 
fess our  national  sins,  and  to  pray  for  clem- 
ency and  forgiveness. 

I  still  have  confidence  that  the  Almighty, 
the  Maker  of  the  Universe,  will,  through  the 
instrumentality  of  this  great  and  intelligent 
people,  bring  us  through  this  as  he  has 
through  all  other  difficulties  of  our  country. 

In  the  Doctrine  and  Covenants  the 
Lord  says: 

If  you  keep  not  my  commandments,  the 
love  of  the  Father  shall  not  continue  with 
you,  therefore,  you  shall  walk  in  darkness. 

The  Antithesis  of  Christ's 
Teachings 

No  one  can  doubt  that  the  seeds 
of  this  war  found  nourishment  in  soil 
of  hatred  and  dishonor,  which  are 
the  antithesis  of  Christ's  teachings. 
The  Conversations  of  Munich,  for 
example,  were  followed  by  viola- 
tions of  agreement  and  broken  prom- 
ises; the  invasion  of  Poland  was 
prompted  by  covetousness  and  car- 
ried out  by  the  fiendish  power  of 
conquest;  the  attack  of  Pearl  Harbor 
was  conceived  in  treachery  and  de- 
ceit; Czechoslovakia,  Greece,  and 
other  nations,  too  weak  to  withstand 
the  onslaught,  have  been  cruelly 
crushed  by  the  forces  of  one  who 
had  defiantly  rejected  Jesus  of  Naz- 
areth and  His  teachings.  So  the  list 
can  be  lengthened,  showing  how 
principles  of  Right  have  been  vio- 
lated, and  how  Hate  has  plundered 
and  destroyed. 

Men  Groping  Blindly,  Aimlessly 

The  serious  effect  of  all  this  is  far 
reaching.  Men's  confidence  is  shak- 
en in  political  forms  of  government. 
In  uncertainty  they  begin  to  ques- 
tion the  promised  security  of  well- 
tried  and  fundamental  principles. 
They  see  the  discoveries  and  inven- 
tions of  science  prostituted  as  a 
means  of  human  destruction.  Old 
beliefs  and  ideals  are  toppling,  and 
as  a  drowning  man  seizes  a  floating 
substance,  men  and  women  grasp 
at  any  new  idea  or  theory  that  is 
thrown  as  a  bait  in  this  sea  of  con- 
fusion. 

The  upsetting  of  the  world  has 
forced  us  into  war,  and  we  should 
be  recreant  not  to  go  forward.  To 
our  soldier  boys  wherever  you  are 
we  say  God  bless  and  guide  you  as 
you  defend  the  divinely-given  prin- 
ciples of  freedom.  May  the  Light 
of  Truth  and  the  power  to  resist 
evil  be  your  constant  companions. 
We  all  realize  with  you  that  you 
are     enlisted     in     a     war     against 


Darkness 


wickedness,  and  that  peace  cannot 
come  until  the  mad  gangsters  having 
in  their  hands  science-produced  ex- 
plosives, mechanized  equipment,  and 
giant  tanks,  are  defeated  and  branded 
as  murderers,  and  their  false  aims  re- 
pudiated, let  us  hope  forever.  Yes,  the 
conflict  must  continue  though  its  aims 
and  purposes  to  many  seem  terribly 
complicated,  and  the  establishment  of 
a  just  peace,  a  task  as  herculean  as  the 
terminating  of  the  war  itself. 


generally  in  men's  hearts  there  is  a  de- 
sire to  treat  fairly  their  fellow  men. 

The  One  and  Safe  Guide 

Tn  all  such  seeking,  however,  there  is 
A  one  idea  indispensable  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  permanent  peace  which 
too  many  men  and  some  nations  have 
obliterated  from  their  minds  entirely, 
but  which  now  should  be  reburnished 
until  it  shines  as  the  unclouded  noon- 
day sun.    I  call  it  an  idea,  having  in 


f~\f  the  ultimate  victory  for  freedom  we 
must   not   doubt;    nor   harbor   either 
discouragement  or  despair. 

Tf  America  is  "the  melting  pot"  the  gospel 
of  Jesus  Christ  is  the  crucible  in  which 
hate,  envy,  and  greed  are  consumed,  and 
good  will,  kindness,  and  love  remain  as  in- 
NER ASPIRATIONS  by  which   man  truly  lives 

AND   BUILDS. 


When  one  looks  out  upon  the  human  race, 
the  way  it  has  come  and  the  way  it  must 
go,  and  sees  that  tiny  gate  so  obscure  that 
one  must  search  to  find  it,  and  so  lowly  that 
one  must  stoop  to  enter  it,  and  yet  the  only 
way  to  life,  die  only  escape  from  ruin  of 
mankind,  one  is  sobered.  .  .  .  And  yet  civ- 
ilization will  be  transitory  until  men  in  large 
numbers  go  this  way  of  love. 

For  two  thousand  years  and  even 
more,  nations  have  ignored,  and,  in 
many  instances,  repudiated  fundamen- 
tal principles  of  the  gospel.  Even  in  so- 
called  Christian  lands  men  have  spurned 
the  teachings  as  being  impractical.  The 
result  is  that  the  earth  has  literally 
been  drenched  with  blood. 

I  have  referred  to  the  present-day 
carnage,  even  to  think  of  which  makes 
everyone  gloomy  and  sick  at  heart,  to 
emphasize,  if  possible,  the  need  of  a 
drastic  change  in  men's  dealings  with 
one  another.  Never  has  there  been  a 
time  in  the  history  of  the  world  when  a 
change  for  the  better  was  so  impera- 
tive. Now,  if  ever,  as  the  scripture 
promises,  "a  nation  should  be  born  in 
a  day" — a  nation  of  men  and  women 
with  changed  hearts  and  changed  at- 
titudes. 

Since  rejection  of  Christ's  teachings 
has  resulted    in   disaster    and    useless 


The  constitution  of  this  government  was 
written    by    men    who   accepted    jesus 
Christ  as  the  savior  of  mankind. 


The  Need  of  a  Guiding  Light 

/""\f  the  ultimate  victory  for  Free- 
^-'  dom,  we  must  not  doubt;  nor  har- 
bor either  discouragement  or  despair. 
As  after  every  night,  even  in  the  dark- 
ness, rises  the  morning  star,  so  now  in 
the  midst  of  the  blackness  of  inter- 
national hatred  and  bloody  conflict, 
men  may  behold  a  Light  heralding  a 
new  day,  if  they  will  but  look  through 
the  eyes  of  Reason  and  Common  Sense. 

Statesmen,  men  of  science,  thinking 
men  in  all  nations,  laymen  everywhere 
sense  the  need  of  something  definite  to 
which  to  look  forward,  some  clear  bea- 
con that  will  guide  the  stranded  nations 
to  a  safe  harbor  of  permanent  peace.  As 
practical  steps  toward  that  goal  they 
say:  (1)  mete  out  just  punishment  to 
villains  and  murderers;  (2)  make  res- 
toration of  sovereign  rights  to  those 
who  have  been  deprived  of  them  by 
force;  (3)  secure  equal  enjoyment  by 
all  nations  of  world  trade  and  materials 
needed  for  prosperity;  (4)  establish 
improved  labor  standards,  economic 
advancement,  and  social  security  for 
all;  (5)  declare  a  peace  assuring  safety 
and  tranquility  the  world  over;  (6) 
grant  freedom  of  the  seas  to  all;  (7) 
exact  promise  of  abandonment  by  all 
nations  of  the  use  of  force,  and  of  dis- 
armament of  aggressive  nations  pend- 
ing the  establishment  of  general  securi- 
ty— these  and  other  expressed  aims  are 
worthy  ideals  and  point  to  the  fact  that 


(^HRIST  IS  THE  WAY,  THE  TRUTH,  THE  LIFE,  THE 
ONLY  SAFE  GUIDE  TO  THAT  HAVEN  OF  PEACE 
FOR  WHICH  MEN  AND  WOMEN  THE  WIDE  WORLD 
OVER  ARE  EARNESTLY  PRAYING. 


mind  the  fact  that  "there  is  more  dyna- 
mite in  an  idea  than  in  many  bombs." 
It  is  as  old  as  the  Lord's  first  message 
to  man,  and  some  of  you  listening  in 
will  call  it  trite — men  in  the  past  have 
entertained  it  for  a  time,  have  dallied 
with  it,  then  without  attempting  to 
make  it  a  reality  have  permitted  it  to 
drop  below  the  plane  of  consciousness, 
and  even  to  sink  into  the  abyss  of  un- 
belief. This  idea  so  frequently  men- 
tioned but  so  seldom  practiced,  con- 
notes things  which,  if  lost,  civilization 
itself  is  lost.  It  connotes  the  right  to 
live,  to  be  treated  decently,  to  be  kind- 
ly spoken  to,  to  enjoy  home,  to  love, 
and  to  be  loved.  It  connotes  strength 
to  defend  the  Right — sympathy  for 
those  who,  striving,  have  failed.  It 
connotes  justice  and  mercy.  It  turns 
the  eye  and  the  heart  from  beastly  pas- 
sions to  noble  aspirations. 

It  is  Christ's  plan  of  love  and  serv- 
ice— summarized  in  the  two  great  com- 
mandments: "Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord 
thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  with 
all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind,  and 
thy  neighbour  as  thyself." 

I  fully  realize  with  Professor  Wie- 
man  that 


bloodshed,  with  only  intermittent 
periods  of  respite  and  progress,  why 
in  the  name  of  reason  should  people 
not  be  willing  to  substitute  for  selfish 
aggrandizement  Christ's  principle  of 
brotherly  consideration?  As  a  first 
step,  for  example,  make  truly  appli- 
cable the  simple  injunction  of  putting 
one's  self  in  the  other  fellow's  place, 
the  surest  of  all  means  of  eliminating 
the  bitterness  that  characterizes  mis- 
understandings. 

Applicability  of  Christ's  Teachings 

"^fo  thinking  person  can  say  truthfully 
^  that  the  application  of  this  one 
simple  act  if  practiced  among  individ- 
uals and  nations  would  not  bring  about 
a  better  world! 

Equally  effective  and  applicable  are 
His  teachings  regarding  the  value  and 
sacredness  of  human  life,  the  virtue  of 
forgiveness,  the  necessity  of  fair  deal- 
ing, His  condemnation  of  the  sin  of 
hypocrisy,  and  of  covetousness,  His 
teachings  regarding  the  saving  power 
of  love,  and  of  the  immortality  of  the 
soul.  His  doctrine  of  arbitration  as  a 
means  of  settling  difficulties  and  quar- 
(Concluded  on  page  750) 

691 


SawL  (B/vanncuL 


PART   II 

7Tt  the  age  of  twenty-seven, 
L\  Samuel  Brannan  was  a  dash- 
J.  A.  ingly  handsome  figure.  His 
dress  was  impeccably  dandified. 
His  near  six-foot  physique  and  tire- 
less energy  were  heritage  from 
sturdy  seafaring  ancestors  and  the 
bleak  coast  of  Maine  which  cradled 
him.  His  hair  was  black,  his  eyes 
dark  and  flashing,  his  voice  full  of 
imperious  thunder.  He  walked  the 
sagging  decks  of  the  old  Brooklyn 
like  a  king — demanding  instant 
obedience  from  that  band  of  Mor- 
mon pilgrims  who  had  plighted  their 
lives  to  ocean  hazard  and  looked  to 
him  for  guidance. 

Despite  his  tendency  toward 
pomposity  and  self-exaltation,  Bran- 
nan  had  leadership  qualities  which 
if  rightly  used  could  have  assured 
success  for  the  undertaking.  He 
was  shrewd,  attentive  to  detail,  and 
possessed  of  courage  and  vision  in 
a  degree  given  few  men.  In  stock- 
ing the  hold  of  the  Brooklyn  he 
chose  supplies  and  equipment  cal- 
culated to  meet  any  emergency 
which  might  arise  in  pioneering  a 
new  commonwealth.  In  1848  the 
coasts  of  California  were  but  vague- 
ly known  to  the  American  people, 
and  rarely  touched  by  ships  plying 
the  Pacific.  In  the  China  trade, 
Honolulu  was  the  Pacific  port  of 
call  rather  than  any  of  the  squalid 
seacoast  villages  of  California.  Oc- 
casionally American  merchantmen 
touched  at  Yerba  Buena,  San  Ped- 
ro, or  San  Diego,  but  their  only 
hope  for  a  cargo  was  an  occasional 
load  of  dried  beef  hides. 

In  that  land  of  imponderables 
Samuel  Brannan  hoped  to  plant  a 
Mormon  colony.  He  seemed  con- 
vinced that  Brigham  Young  would 
lead  the  Saints  through  to  Califor- 
nia— a  belief  difficult  to  reconcile 
with  the  great  leader's  public  utter- 
ances and  writings  at  that  time.  He 
expected  to  arrive  first  in  this  new 
land.  His  responsibility,  he  con- 
sidered, was  to  make  ready  a  place 
where  weary  Saints  who  traveled 
overland  might  find  rest  and  sur- 
cease from  the  trail. 

So  into  the  hold  of  the  Brooklyn 
had  gone  agricultural  and  mechan- 
ical implements  for  eight  hundred 

692 


AND  THE  MORMONS 
IN  EARLY  CALIFORNIA 


By  PAUL  BAILEY 


SAM    BRANNAN'S 

PRINTING 

PRESS 

Upon  this  press  was 
printed  "The  Prophet," 
and  "The  Messenger." 
Afterwards,  hauled  around 
the  Horn  on  the  "Brook- 
lyn," it  was  used  by  Bran- 
nan to  print  San  Fran- 
cisco's first  newspaper, 
the  "California  Star." 


men:  scythes,  plows,  hoes,  forks, 
shovels,  plow-irons,  nails,  glass; 
blacksmith,  carpenter  and  mill- 
wright tools;  equipment  for  three 
grain  mills;  turning  lathes  and  saw- 
mill irons;  printing  equipment  and 
two  years'  supply  of  paper.  There 
were  such  staples  as  brass,  copper, 
tin  and  crockeryware,  dry  goods, 
and  an  immense  supply  of  school 
books  and  slates.  Two  milch  cows, 
forty  pigs,  and  crates  of  fowls  were 
loaded  aboard  to  make  certain  Zion 
had  an  agricultural  start.  And  the 
cows,  milked  on  deck,  provided  a 
fresh  and  nourishing  diet  for  the 
Brooklyn's  infant  passengers.  A 
case  or  two  of  smooth-bore  muskets 
were     carefully     hidden     between 


—Courtesy,  Society  of  California  Pioneers. 

decks,  and  the  ship  had  been  pro- 
visioned for  a  six  month's  voyage. 
To  prepare  meals,  a  negro  cook  and 
a  negro  steward  had  been  hired  for 
sixteen  and  eighteen  dollars  a  month, 
respectively. 

Throughout  the  weeks  preceding 
the  voyage  a  crew  of  carpenters  had 
transformed  the  decrepit  old  mer- 
chantman into  something  vaguely  re- 
sembling a  packet.  Lower  deck  and 
a  portion  of  the  evil-smelling  hold 
had  been  converted  into  tiny  cabins 
and  bunks,  with  one  large  room  pro- 
vided for  religious  services  and  mess 
hall.  These  quarters  were  ill-ventil- 
ated, insanitary,  and  almost  wholly 
devoid  of  light. 

(Continued  on  page  725) 


JhSL 

LAND  OF 
TIMELESSNESS 


By  MILTON  MANGUM 


From  the  land  of  today,  with  its 
calendars,  clocks,  and  schedules 
to  the  land  of  timelessness,  where 
sifting  sands  grind  slowly  and  time  is 
measured  in  geological  ages — that  is 
what  it  means  to  be  transported  from 
the  busy,  bustling  cities  of  northern 
Utah  to  the  canyons  and  crags  of  the 
San  Juan  River  country.  Here  in  this 
land  of  the  Navajo  and  ancient  cliff- 
dweller  one  sees  the  silent,  relentless 
fight  between  life  and  death.  Here  plant 
and  animal  life,  armed  with  thorns  or 
claws  and  sharp,  often  poisonous 
teeth,  wages  endless  battle  for  life 
against  the  elements. 

In  the  Cottonwood  canyon  near 
Bluff  or  in  the  cliffs  overhanging  the 
Chinle  Creek  one  sees  the  remains  of 
some  of  these  ancient  battles,  battles 
in  which  man  fought  desperately — and 
lost.  Here  the  elements  are  slowly  dis- 
integrating the  work  of  an  ancient  peo- 
ple. Winds  and  water  are  crumbling 
the  sandstone  shelves  upon  which  were 
built  the  homes  of  a  people  who  once 
sought  the  protection  of  the  vari-col- 
ored  cliffs. 

The  mud  mortar,  once  patted  into 
place  and  marked  with  the  imprint  of 
hands  which  have  long  since  crumbled 
to  dust,  is  slowly  weathering  away 
and  sifting  out  from  between  the  rocks. 

Buried  under  the  dust  of  centuries 
are  the  sunken  circular  fire  boxes  where 
food,  gathered  at  the  risk  of  life,  was 
cooked  in  pottery  molded  into  shape 
and  decorated  in  basket-like  effects  by 
pressure  of  the  thumb  on  soft  clay. 
Corncobs,  still  showing  the  teeth- 
marks  of  a  race  now  gone,  are  found 
buried  under  the  dust  and  debris. 

In  the  dust  a  shiny  arrowhead 
sparkles  in  the  shadows.  What  was 
its  mission?  Did  that  glistening  stone, 
cut  in  the  shape  of  a  mountain  pine, 
once  tear  through  flesh  and  release  a 
soul  from  further  fear  of  hulking 
shadows,  or  was  its  use  arrested  by 
another  like  stone  while  it  was  being 
put  in  place  to  tip  a  willowy  shaft? 

We  cannot  answer.  Turning  away 
we  follow  the  path  of  modern  man.  A 
narrow  road  across  the  vast  stretches 
of  this  country  indicates  where  our  own 
people  have  invaded  the  mystical  si- 
lence of  this  land  of  timelessness:  the 
road  from  Bluff  to  Kayenta — a  haunt- 
ing road  where  shadows  of  the  past 
hold  tryst  with  the  foreboding  spirits  of 


MONUMENT 
VALLEY 


the  future.  It  skirts  the  muddy  San 
Juan  for  some  distance,  then  winds  out 
of  the  valley  up  through  the  jagged 
rocks  of  a  gray  and  red  reef.  Eyes 
feast  on  the  vast  panorama  of  color 
reaching  out  to  the  far  horizon,  and  ears 
drink  in  the  rich  silence.  Down  we 
dip  again  into  a  deep  valley  between 
overhanging  walls  and  feel  the  cool- 
ness of  the  canyon  floor  where  the  sun 
never  shines.  Then  up  again  to  the 
high,  grey  spine  of  comb  ridge  and  on 
down  the  tortuous  road  to  Mexican 
Hat  and  the  river. 

Looking  down  into  the  Moenkopi, 
red  waters  of  the  San  Juan  at  Mexican 
Hat  give  one  the  impression  that  the 
land  is  slowly  bleeding  to  death. 

We  must  not  pause  too  long  at  the 
Gooseneck  or  we  shall  become  be- 
wildered by  the  twisting  and  writhing 
of  the  river  in  the  deep,  dark  canyon 
below;  be  overcome  by  an  impulse  to 
plunge  out  into  space  and  forgetfulness. 

Let  us  follow  the  road  as  it  climbs 
out  of  the  canyon  at  Mexican  Hat  and 
winds  out  across  the  Navajo  reserva- 
tion. Catch  a  glimpse  of  the  Alham- 
bra  as  it  bathes  in  the  first  rays  of  the 
sun  in  the  morning.  Like  the  story 
castle  of  "Sleeping  Beauty"  it  waits  for 
a  "Prince  Charming"  to  come  and 
awaken  the  household.  But  no  prince 
ever  comes. 

The  road  winds  on  through  a  land 
where  the  undaunted  spirit  of  the  pio- 
neer has  been  broken  on  the  wheel  of 
tragic  desert  life.  Here  and  there  along 
the  road  an  abandoned  oil  well,  an 
empty  shack,  a  broken  wagon  or  dis- 
carded truck  only  further  demonstrate 
the  ruthless  strength  of  the  elements 
in  this  desert  land. 

It  seems  the  elements  in  this  strange 
land  resent  the  distorting  touch  of  man 
and  are  doing  all  they  can  to  discour- 
age him  in  the  invasion  of  its  sphinx- 
like security.  If  he  breaks  the  stillness 
of  its  silent  canyons  with  sacrilegious 
shout,  the  cliffs  mock  back.  If  he  leaves 
his  imprint  upon  the  face  of  the  vast 
valleys,  soft  desert  winds  cover  the  vul- 
gar mark  with  clean  sand.  If  he  seeks 
gold  or  greasy  oil,  fortune  fades  and 
leaves  an  empty  shaft  or  silent  derrick 
as  a  warning  to  future  invaders. 

Here  and  there  empty  Navajo  hogans 


are  weathering  away,  mute  witness  of 
death's  visit  to  them.  These  silent  peo- 
ple of  the  desert  believe  that  once  death 
passes  the  portals  of  the  hogan,  that 
hogan  is  cursed  and  must  be  abandoned 
and  a  new  one  built.  Yellow  and  brown 
lizards  crawl  into  the  recesses  of  these 
once  inhabited  homes,  where  sorrow 
and  pain  stalked  a  stoic  people  in  the 
stillness  of  the  night.  Rattlesnakes  curl 
in  the  shade  where  once  a  child  was 
born.  Horned  toads  blink  from  the 
shadows  where  long  ago  an  Indian 
mother  sang  softly  to  her  baby. 

By  the  decaying  hogan  stands  the 
post  where  once  was  tied  the  lean  cay- 
use  waiting  to  be  ridden  across  the 
blackbrush-covered  ridges  or  turned 
loose  to  graze  on  the  sparse  growth 
of  dry  grass  or  low  greasewood.  Here 
is  the  rude  stick  which  once  formed  a 
part  of  a  loom  upon  which  were  woven 
into  a  coarse  blanket  the  vivid  colors 
of  the  desert. 

Here  are  the  blackened  stones  which 
once  encircled  a  friendly  fire  of  cedar 
and  blackbrush;  a  fire  which  moment- 
arily blinked  back  the  blackness  of  the 
desert  night.  Here  beside  this  lonely 
hogan  brown-skinned  nomads  of  the 
desert  once  lived,  loved,  hated,  felt 
pain  and  hunger,  then  died  or  moved 
on.  Now  the  desert  seems  bent  only 
to  the  task  of  erasing  the  signs  of  the 
infamy. 

In  the  evening  the  silent  guards  of 
Monument  Valley  draw  the  dark 
cloaks  of  the  night  about  them  in 
solemn  similitude  of  the  sanctity  of  this 
strange  land.  All  night  they  stand, 
mute  warnings  to  him  who  would  in- 
vade that  sanctity. 

Warm  sands  of  day  turn  cold  at 
night,  and  tinseled  stars  hover  so  close 
it  seems  one  could  almost  reach  out  and 
pluck  them  from  the  sky.  Yet  again 
these  solemn  sentinels  seem  to  put  forth 
a  warning  hand  to  guard  these  jewels 
of  the  night. 

In  the  stillness  of  the  night  a  message 
from  the  desert  is  whispered  into  the 
ears  of  the  soul:  "This  is  the  land  of 
timelessness.  If  you  would  stay  you 
must  become  a  part  of  it,  be  swal- 
lowed up  by  the  desert.  Your  identity 
must  be  lost.  Here  time  is  forever,  and 
eternity  is  now." 

693 


JOSEPH  F.  SMITH 

(pat/ricuuzk,  to  JthsL  tfku/ich. 


By  JOSEPH  FIELDING  SMITH 

of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 


At  the  first  session  of  the  semi- 
annual general  conference  of 
,  the  Church  held  in  the  taber- 
nacle, Saturday  morning,  October  3, 
1942,  Elder  Joseph  F.  Smith,  eldest 
son  of  the  late  Hyrum  M.  Smith, 
was  sustained  as  Patriarch  to  the 
Church.  At  the  time  of  his  appoint- 
ment he  was  the  head  of  the  speech 
department  at  the  University  of 
Utah.  He  was  born  January  30, 
1899,  in  Salt  Lake  City,  the  eldest 
child  of  Elder  Hyrum  M.  and  Ida 
Elizabeth  Bowman  Smith.  His  fa- 
ther was  the  eldest  son  of  Presi- 
dent Joseph  F.  Smith  and  from  Oc- 
tober 24,  1901,  to  his  death,  Janu- 
ary 23,  1918,  was  a  member  of  the 
Council  of  the  Twelve  Apostles. 
Joseph  F.  was  left  in  his  youth  with- 
out both  father  and  mother,  as  his 
mother  died  September  24,  1918,  six 
days  after  the  birth  of  her  second 
son,  Hyrum  Mack,  Jr.  The  care  of 
the  children  was  left  to  their  Aunt 
Margaret  Bowman,  who  has  been  to 
them  all  that  love,  sympathy,  and 
motherly  care  could  exact. 

Joseph  F.  was  baptized  on  his 
eighth  birthday  anniversary,  Jan- 
uary 30,  1907.  His  early  school- 
ing was  received  in  the  Salt  Lake 
City  district  schools.  When  Hyrum 
M.,  Joseph  F.'s  father,  was  called 
to  preside  over  the  European  mis- 
sion, in  the  fall  of  1913,  he  took  his 
family  with  him,  and  Joseph  at- 
tended Liverpool  Collegiate  School. 
After  returning  to  his  native  land 
he  continued  his  education  in  the 
University  of  Utah,  where  he 
showed  exceptional  talent  in  speech 
694 


JOSEPH  F.  SMITH 


and  dramatics  under  the  guiding 
hand  of  Dr.  Maud  May  Bab- 
cock,  to  whom  he  owes  much  in 
obtaining  his  start  in  his  chosen 
field.  In  April  1920,  he  was  called 
on  a  mission  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands, 
where  he  labored  under  the  direction 
of  his  uncle,  E.  Wesley  Smith,  then 
presiding  in  that  mission.  He  re- 
turned home  in  September  1922,  aft- 
er completing  a  successful  mission, 
and  again  took  up  his  studies  at  the 
University  of  Utah.  Shortly  after 
his  return  he  was  called  to  do  the 
usual  duties  required  of  faithful 
young  men  in  the  Church,  in  the  or- 
ganizations and  became  a  teacher  in 
various  classes  and  in  his  quorum. 
He  was  also  called  to  serve  on  the 
Granite  Stake  Sunday  School  board. 
Since  1929,  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  general  board  of  the  Y.M.M. 
LA. 

He  received  the  Bachelor  of  Arts 
degree  from  the  University  of  Utah 
in  1 924,  and  the  following  year  took 
a  course  in  the  University  of  Lon- 
don, where  he  obtained  a  certificate 
in  phonetics.  The  next  year  he  was 
a  student  in  the  University  of  Illi- 
nois where  he  obtained  his  M.A.  de- 
gree; in  1936-38  he  was  a  student  in 
the  University  of  Wisconsin,  where 
he  also  taught.  He  also  spent  one 
summer  at  Oxford.  He  has  taught 
two  summer  sessions  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Minnesota,  and  one  summer 
in  the  University  of  Iowa.  For  one 
year  he  was  Director  of  Theater  in 
the  University  of  Illinois  and  also 
taught  in  the  summer  school  in  the 
University  of  California  at  Berkeley. 


REMARKS  OF 

JOSEPH  F.  SMITH 

Patriarch  to  the  Church 

Delivered  at  the  Saturday  Morn- 
ing Session  of  the  l\3th  Semi- 
annual General  Conference,  Oc- 
tober 3,  1942,  in  the  Tabernacle. 

T  know  that  my  Redeemer  lives. 
A  Once  in  January  of  this  year, 
and  again  in  April,  I  lay  in  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death.  I 
returned  therefrom  only  by  the 
power  of  the  Priesthood  and  the 
faith  of  those  who  love  me.  Let 
sophists-  scoff  —  let  worldly 
learned  men  rationalize:  I  know 
— as  I  know  that  I  stand  here — 
that  I  am  alive  this  day  by  the 
power  of  the  Priesthood  and  by 
the  faith  of  my  loved  ones. 

Many  nights  have  I  lain  and 
pondered  the  Lord's  goodness  to 
me — goodness  which  I  must  con- 
fess seemed  all  too  unmerited. 
There  are  no  words  for  me  to  tell 
you  what  went  on  in  my  heart  this 
day  as  I  saw  this  great  body  of 
men  holding  the  holy  Priesthood 
sustain  me  in  the  calling  to  which 
the  Prophet  of  God  has  sum- 
moned me. 

I  know  that  my  Redeemer  lives. 
I  know  that  Heber  J.  Grant  is  His 
chosen  and  properly-ordained 
mouthpiece  upon  earth.  God  grant 
that  we  as  a  body  of  Priesthood, 
that  our  families,  that  our  breth- 
ren and  sisters  who  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ 
of  Latter-day  Saints  may  have  the 
wisdom  and  the  strength  to  hew 
closely  to  the  words  which  have 
issued  and  which  shall  issue  from 
the  constituted  authority  of  the 
Church.  Only  by  so  doing  will 
we  have  the  strength  to  face  the 
trials  that  are  to  come.  The 
hearts  of  the  strongest  may  quail. 
Obedience  to  the  word  of  the 
Lord  is  the  only  thing  which  will 
fortify  us  in  the  days  to  come. 

God  grant  that  we  may  be  Lat- 
ter-day Saints,  I  pray  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ.    Amen. 


He  taught  in  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin two  years  and  during  five 
summer  sessions,  and  for  the  past 
seven  years  he  has  also  taught  in  the 
summer  session  in  the  Banff  School 
of  Fine  Arts,  a  subsidiary  of  the 
University  of  Alberta.  All  of  this, 
in  connection  with  the  duties  as  head 
of  the  department  of  speech  in  the 
University  of  Utah,  and  his  activities 
on  the  Young  Men's  General  Board 
and  in  other  Church  work,  has  made 
for  him  a  very  busy  life. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  following 
fraternities,  societies,  and  profes- 
sional organizations:  The  National 
Sociology  Fraternity;  Theta  Alpha 
Phi;  the  National  Dramatic  Fratern- 
ity; National  Forensic  Fraternity; 
and  Sigma  Phi  Sigma. 

Early  in  the  present  year,  1942, 
he  was  taken  seriously  ill  and  spent 
many  weeks  in  the  hospital  and  only 
by  the  blessings  of  the  Lord  through 
administration,  was  his  life  spared. 
Then  following  this  illness  he  was 
seized  again  and  spent  another  siege 
of  serious  illness  which  necessitated 
an  operation  at  the  Mayo  Clinic  in 
Minnesota.  Again,  through  the  pow- 
er of  the  Lord  he  was  brought  back 
to  his  present  condition  of  health. 

January  5,  1929,  he  married  Ruth 
Pingree,  who  is  a  member  of  the 
Primary  General  Board,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Pauline  Taggart  Pingree,  a 
member  of  the  Relief  Society  Gener- 
al Board;  and  the  late  Frank  Pingree. 
They  have  five  children,  three  girls 
and  two  boys:  Ruth  S.,  Ida,  Raoul 
Pingree,  Denis  Pingree,  and  Lynne 
Esther,  who  is  four  months  old. 

The  office  of  Patriarch  to  the 
Church  is  one  of  two  hereditary  of- 
fices in  the  Church,  the  other  being 
that  of  Presiding  Bishop.  In  the  case 
of  the  Presiding  Bishop,  however, 
the  Lord  has  not  revealed  the  line  of 
descent  and  since  one  holding  the 
office  of  high  priest  may  serve,  this 


order  has  been  followed  from  the  be- 
ginning in  this  dispensation.  Speak- 
ing of  the  office  of  Patriarch,  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith  has  said: 

The  Evangelist  is  a  Patriarch  even  the 
oldest  man  of  the  blood  of  Joseph  or  of  the 
seed  of  Abraham.  Wherever  the  Church 
of  Christ  is  established  in  the  earth,  there 
should  be  a  Patriarch  for  the  benefit  of  the 
posterity  of  the  Saints,  as  it  was  with  Jacob 
in  giving  his  patriarchal  blessings  unto  his 
sons.  ( Teachings  of  the  Prophet,  page  151 ) 

In  case  of  the  patriarchal  office, 
the  Lord  has  designated  the  line  of 
descent.  By  revelation  and  com- 
mandment Joseph  Smith,  Sr.,  was 
called  and  ordained  to  this  office. 
In  the  blessing  pronounced  upon  his 
head  the  Prophet  said: 

Three  years  previous  to  the  death  of 
Adam,  he  called  Seth,  Enos,  Cainan,  Maha- 
laleel,  Jared,  Enoch,  and  Methuselah,  who 
were  all  high  priests,  with  the  residue  of 
the  posterity  who  were  righteous  into  the 
valley  of  Adam-ondi-Ahman  and  there  be- 
stowed upon  them  his  last  blessing.     And 


JOSEPH  F.  SMITH  AND  FAMILY 

Front:  Ruth  Pingree  Smith  and  Lynne  Esther,  Denis, 
Joseph  F.  Smith,  and  Raoul;  Rear:  Ida,  Ruth. 

the  Lord  appeared  unto  them,  and  they  rose 
up  and  blessed  Adam,  and  called  him  Mich- 
ael, the  Prince,  the  Arch-angel.  And  the 
Lord  administered  comfort  unto  Adam,  and 
said  unto  him,  I  have  set  thee  to  be  at  the 
head;  A  multitude  of  nations  shall  come  of 
thee,  and  thou  art  a  Prince  over  them  for- 
ever. So  shall  it  be  with  my  father.  He 
shall  be  called  a  prince  over  his  posterity 
holding  the  keys  of  the  Patriarchal  Priest- 
hood over  the  kingdom  of  God  on  earth, 
even  the  Church  of  the  Latter-day  Saints, 
and  he  shall  sit  in  the  general  assembly  of 
Patriarchs,  even  in  council  with  the  An- 
cient of  Days,  when  he  shall  sit  and  all  the 
Patriarchs  with  him,  and  shall  enjoy  his 
right  and  authority  under  the  direction  of 
the  Ancient  of  Days.  .  .  . 

Again,  blessed  is  my  father,  for  the  hand 
of  the  Lord  shall  be  over  him  and  he  shall 
be  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  .  .  .  Behold 
the  blessings  of  Joseph  by  the  hand  of  his 
progenitor  shall  come  upon  the  head  of  my 
father  and  his  seed  after  him,  to  the  utter- 
most. (Blessing  given  December  18,  1833.) 

{Concluded  on  page  737) 


JOSEPH  SMITH,  SEN. 


HYRUM  SMITH 


PATRIARCHS  TO  THE  CHURCH  SINCE  1S33 
JOHN   SMITH 


JOHN   SMITH 


HYRUM  G.  SMITH 


No 

photograph 

available 


695 


Journey  to 


HEBER  J.  GRANT  AS  THE 
YOUNG  APOSTLE 


"I 


am  twenty-eight  years 
old  today.  I  can  scarcely  realize  I 
am  more  than  eighteen  or  twenty.  I 
feel  like  a  boy  in  knowledge  regard- 
ing the  gospel." 

These  words  were  written  in 
Heber  J.  Grant's  journal  at  St. 
David,  Arizona,  November  22, 
1884. 

He  was  "traveling  for  the 
Church"  in  company  with  Brigham 
Young,  Jr.,  and  had  spent  a  month 
holding  meetings  in  the  settlements 
of  the  Saints  in  Arizona.  Such  a 
visit  was  a  minor  part  of  their  as- 
signment, for,  as  apostles,  they  had 
been  called  by  President  John  Tay- 
lor to  choose  a  party  of  competent 
men  and  proceed  into  Mexico. 

"Our  trip  into  Sonora,  Mexico,  is 
for  the  purpose  of  visiting  the  Chief 
of  the  Yaqui  Indian  nation  and  to 
try  to  find  a  place  on  the  upper 
Yaqui  for  a  settlement  ...  a  place 
for  a  city  of  refuge." 

Twenty-three  men  were  called  to 
accompany  them.* 

The  meeting  place  was  at  No- 
gales,  Arizona,  where  on  the  morning 
of  November  25,  "shortly  after  10 
a.m.  President  Layton's  buggy  ar- 
rived and  we  went  a  mile  north  of  the 
town  and  camped.  About  twelve 
o'clock  the  teams  from  Salt,  Gila, 
and  San  Pedro  rivers  arrived.  We 
were  very  much  pleased  that  the 
teams  from  the  different  towns 
should  arrive  here  at  the  same  time 
and  all  on  the  appointed  day." 

Upon  reaching  the  border  it  was 
necessary  to  have  a  one  thousand 

*President  Alex.  T.  Macdonald,  Charles  S.  Peter- 
son, Solomon  F.  Kimball,  Milton  L.  Ray,  and  Jorgen 
H.  P.  Newman  of  Mesa  City,  Maricopa  County; 
Benjamin  F.  Johnson,  and  Heber  T.  Johnson  of 
Terape,  Maricopa  County;  Alma  P.  Spilsbury,  Mesa 
City  (Alma  Ward);  Henry  C.  Rogers,  Reuben  Col- 
let, Lehi;  Incarnacion  Vaienzuela,  (Lamanite)  from 
Papago  Ward,  Maricopa  County;  John  S.  Merrill, 
David  E.  Merrill,  and  Samuel  B.  Curtis  of  St,  David, 
Cochise  County;  Alfred  Baker,  James  Larsen,  and 
Thomas  Ramson  of  Pima,  Graham  County;  Levi  Curtis, 
Curtis,  Graham  County;  George  M.  Hawes,  and  Wil- 
liam C  Clemens  of  Central,  Graham  County;  Hyrum 
Brinkerhoff,    Thatcher,    Graham    County. 

696 


Wkxko 


AS   RECORDED   IN   THE 
JOURNALS  AND   LETTERS   OF 

(p/UL&jud&nL 

Compiled  by  RACHEL  GRANT  TAYLOR 


'"Phis  account  of  an  arduous  and  disheartening  journey  indicates  how 
•■■  Church  service  tests  men,  and  calls  for  faith  to  follow  instructions 
despite  personal  sacrifice  and  danger.  The  journey  to  Mexico  would 
seem  to  have  been  a  fruitless  venture,  but  it  proved  the  mettle  of  the 
men  who  undertook  it,  and  pursued  the  line  of  their  duty  with  courage, 
in  spite  of  hardship  and  disappointment. 


dollar  bond  to  enter  the  country.  "I 
telegraphed  to  Mr.  Dooley  of  Wells 
Fargo  and  secured  the  money,  gave 
a  Mr.  Goodwin  a  sixty-day  sight 
draft,  and  Mr.  Goodwin  signed  a 
bond  with  the  customs  house  for  the 
safe  return  of  five  wagons,  three 
carriages,  nine  riding  saddles,  three 
pack  saddles,  and  thirteen  sets  of 
harness."  Their  animals,  "thirty- 
two  in  number,  were  not  subject  to 
duty  on  account  of  there  being  no 
horses — mares,  mules,  and  stallions 
pass  free." 

Over  three  hours  were  spent  at 
the  customs  house  and  then  "for  the 
first  time  in  my  life  I  put  my  foot  on 
soil  of  a  foreign  country." 

That  afternoon  the  company 
traveled  about  twenty  miles  inland 
and  when  night  came  camped  in  the 
timberland  where  grass  was  plenti- 
ful. "It  was  arranged  that  at  our 
prayers  night  and  morning  the  chap- 
lain would  call  on  the  members  of 
the  party  in  order  of  their  ages. 

"Sonora,  Mexico,  November  27: 
Broke  camp  a  few  minutes  after  8 
a.m.  Have  traveled  about  thirty- 
three  miles  today,  most  of  the  time 
on  a  small  stream  which  we  were 
told  was  the  Magdalena  River.  It 
is  hardly  worthy  of  the  name  of 
river.    Before  leaving  Nogales,  Mr. 


Goodwin  warned  us  not  to  stop  in 
Magdalena,  Hermosillo,  Guaymas, 
and  other  towns  on  account  of  yel- 
low fever.  The  country  on  either 
side  of  the  Magdalena  River  is  very 
fine  and  would  be  a  lovely  spot  if  it 
were  owned  by  some  wide-awake 
Utah  farmers.  The  valley  is  very 
narrow  and  not  capable  of  support- 
ing much  of  a  population.  Plenty 
of  trees  on  our  route  today,  black 
walnut,  sycamore,  black  willow,  Cot- 
tonwood, blackberry,  etc. 

"November  28:  Continued  our 
journey  at  7  a.m.  Today  we  have 
passed  a  number  of  small  Mexican 
towns:  Imuris,  La  Mesa,  San  Ig- 
nacio,  and  others.  This  afternoon 
we  passed  through  Magdalena  City 
— some  four  thousand  inhabitants. 
Camped  just  out  of  Magdalena  in 
the  field  of  a  Mexican.  He  charged 
ten  cents  per  head  for  feed  for  our 
animals.  In  Magdalena  we  called 
on  the  prefecto  and  Brother  Young 
presented  a  letter  from  the  Mexican 
consul  at  Tucson.  The  prefecto 
received  us  very  kindly  and  gave  us 
all  the  information  he  could  regard- 
ing the  country,  and  a  letter  of  in- 
troduction to  the  Governor  of  So- 
nora. Have  traveled  about  twenty- 
eight  miles  today.  We  have  had 
fine  weather  ever  since  leaving  St. 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,  NOVEMBER,  1942 


David  but  find  it  gradually  getting 
warmer.  Today  we  passed  through 
a  small  town  where  there  was  a 
large  number  of  orange  trees. .  .  .  To 
see  green  fields  and  trees  seems  more 
like  May  than  November.  Saw  a 
wheat  field  where  the  wheat  was  up 
several  inches. 

"Sunday,  November  30,  1884: 
Started  from  camp  at  6:30  a.m. 
Traveled  about  nine  miles  for  water 
to  a  ranch  called  Querobabi. 
Learned  from  a  Mexican  that  six 
persons  had  died  there  from  yellow 
fever  two  months  ago. 

"We  watered  our  animals  from 
one  of  the  most  filthy  tanks  I  ever 
saw.  It  was  this  or  nothing.  We 
had  to  pay  for  the  water,  five  cents 
per  animal.  Some  of  our  party 
drank  from  the  tank  but  I  did  not 
care  to  do  so  although  I  was  quite 
thirsty.  The  water  looked  like  it 
had  been  there  all  summer  at  least. 
Animals  were  driven  into  it,  and  it 
looked  more  like  the  remains  of  a 
cow  yard  than  a  tank  saved  for  the 
use  of  animals  and  man.  Plenty  of 
good  grass  today  but  no  water  ex- 
cepting that  in  tanks.  Made  a  dry 
camp  a  few  miles  further  on. 

*      *      * 

"This  morning  about  one  o'clock 
most  of  us  were  aroused  from  our 
slumber  by  the  bellowing  of  a  large 
number  of  bulls.  We  were  reminded 
of  the  Mormon  Battalion's  experi- 
ence with  bulls,  but  these  did  not 
come  to  our  camp.  They  did  some 
fighting  among  themselves  and  any 
amount  of  bellowing. 

"Brother  Young  stated  that  he 
thought  we  should  hold  occasional 
meetings  and  call  upon  the  Lord. 
He  felt  that  we  would  be  more  apt 
to  fully  accomplish  our  mission  if 
we  were  prayerful  and  went  trust- 
ing in  our  Heavenly  Father.  He 
promised  that  if  we  would  be  faith- 
ful that  no  harm  should  come  to  any 
of  our  party  or  their  families  while 
we  are  on  this  mission.  I  kept  camp 
guard  until  twelve  this  evening. 

"December  1,  1884:  This  evening 
our  party  was  organized  into  two 
companies.  The  matter  of  being 
always  on  our  guard  and  prepared 
for  any  kind  of  an  emergency  was 
fully  discussed. 

"Sonora,  Mexico,  Tuesday,  De- 
cember 2,  1884:  Came  to  a  fine 
stream  of  running  water  about  1 1 
a.m.  It  was  quite  refreshing  to  find 
running  water  after  traveling  sever- 
al days  where  the  only  water  we 
could  get  was  from  wells  at  Mexi- 
can ranches  or  from  filthy  tanks. 
Have  traveled  about  twenty-six 
miles  today.    This  morning  just  be- 


fore daylight  our  two  horse  guards 
brought  a  Mexican  into  camp.  He 
was  armed  with  a  gun  and  had  been 
discovered  near  our  animals.  He 
claimed  to  be  on  his  way  to  San 
Miguel.  After  some  little  conversa- 
tion he  was  turned  loose.  We  passed 
through  the  Mexican  town  of  La 
Labor.  Camped  tonight  near  the 
headquarters  of  a  band  of  thieves, 
that  is,  judging  from  the  best  in- 
formation we  could  obtain.  Did  not 
turn  our  animals  out  tonight,  as  it 
is  not  considered  wisdom.  It  has 
been  very  warm  today.  Purchased 
something  over  400  oranges  at  La 
Labor. 

"Wednesday,  December  3,  1884: 
Broke  camp  about  5  a.m.  We  drove 
until  after  nine  and  camped  for 
breakfast  about  two  miles  this  side 
north  of  Hermosillo.  After  break- 
fast about  a  third  of  our  party  went 
into  the  city.  Brothers  Young,  Mac- 
donald,  Ray,  and  myself  called  at 
the  governor's  office.  We  learned 
that  he  was  out  of  town.  Brother 
Young  presented  his  letters  of  in- 
troduction from  the  Mexican  consul 
at  Tucson  and  the  prefecto  at  Mag- 
dalena  to  the  secretary,  who  re- 
ceived us  kindly  and  gave  us  all  the 
information  he  could  regarding  the 
Yaqui  River  and  the  country  in  the 


vicinity  of  that  river.  I  was  quite 
disappointed  upon  going  to  the  post 
office  today  to  find  no  letters  for  me 
from  home.  I  was  positive  there 
would  be  quite  a  number. 

"Hermosillo  is  said  to  have  seven 
thousand  inhabitants.  Most  of  the 
buildings  are  one  story  with  flat 
roofs  and  are  built  of  adobes.  The 
streets  are  very  narrow  and  in  com- 
parison with  our  Utah  streets  are 
hardly  worthy  of  the  name.  The 
government  building  in  which  the 
governor  has  his  office  will  be  a  very 
fine  structure  when  completed.  The 
plaza  in  front  of  this  building  is  as 
lovely  a  spot  as  one  could  ask  to  look 
at.  It  is  full  of  trees  and  flowers, 
many  orange  trees  full  of  ripe  fruit. 
Orange  trees  are  planted  on  some  of 
the  streets  in  the  same  manner  as  we 
plant  trees  for  shade  in  Utah. 

"This  evening  in  camp  we  talked 
over  our  future  program.  We  have 
been  warned  by  every  Mexican  offi- 
cial that  we  have  met  from  the  consul 
at  Tucson  to  the  secretary  in  Sonora 
not  to  go  into  the  country  on  the  Ya- 
qui River  occupied  by  the  Yaqui  In- 
dians. The  secretary  informed  us 
that  the  Yaquis  would  take  our  arms 

{Concluded  on  page  698) 
ROUTE  OF  THE  JOURNEY  TO  THE  YAQUI   COUNTRY 


697 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,  1942 


{Concluded  from  page  697) 
and  animals  and  that  we  would  be  for- 
tunate if  we  escaped  with  our  lives. 

"In  camp  about  four  miles  from 
Hermosillo.  Thursday,  December  4: 
Something  like  a  third  of  our  party  left 
about  10  a.m.  for  Hermosillo.  We 
called  on  General  B.  B.  Topets,  who 
gave  us  all  the  information  he  could 
regarding  the  Yaqui  River  and  other 
parts  of  Sonora.  He  said  that  the 
Yaquis  disarmed  every  company  that 
came  into  their  country,  that  they 
would  raise  a  force  of  two  thousand 
men  if  necessary.  He  advised  us  to 
remain  over  a  day  and  meet  the  gov- 
ernor. He  offered  to  furnish  us  a  mili- 
tary escort  to  assist  us  in  exploring  the 
country.  We  returned  to  camp  and  in 
the  evening  held  a  meeting. 

"Today  being  fast  day,  all  of  our 
party  fasted  this  morning. 

"I  have  felt  impressed  that  I  had  bet- 
ter remain  at  our  camp  with  the  disap- 
pointed part  of  our  company  instead  of 
going  to  Guaymas.  I  told  Brother 
Young  my  feeling.  He  had  felt  the  same 
but  hardly  cared  to  name  the  matter  to 
me,  thinking  I  would  not  desire  to  re- 
main. 

"December  5,  1884:  This  a.m.  part 
of  our  company  drove  to  the  city.  In 
company  with  General  Topets,  Broth- 
ers Young,  Macdonald,  Johnson,  Ray, 
and  myself  called  on  the  Sonora  gov- 
ernor. We  were  kindly  received.  vVe 
found  the  governor  to  be  a  very  pleas- 
ant gentleman  and  a  good  English 
talker. 

"Governor  Torres  gave  them  to  un- 
derstand that  their  mission  was  not  ap- 
proved by  him,  that  the  Yaquis  were 
in  open  rebellion  against  the  Mexican 
government  and  would  not  come  under 
control. 

"The  Yaquis,  the  governor  said,  had 
about  four  thousand  men  garrisoned 
and  would  not  allow  the  Mexican  sol- 
diers or  people  to  go  into  their  coun- 
try. As  they  were  a  hard-working 
people,  the  bone  and  sinew  of  Sonora, 
the  government  did  not  wish  to  make 
war  upon  them  just  yet. 

"Brothers  Young,  Macdonald,  B.  F. 
Johnson,  Ray,  Brinkerhoff,  Valenzuela, 
and  Clemens  took  the  train  for  Guay- 
mas. There  they  secured  a  Yaqui  boat, 
the  Falucha,  to  take  the  party  to  the 
mouth  of  the  river.  .  .  .  While  the  boat 
was  waiting  for  the  wind,  the  Yaquis 
and  Mexicans  gathered  about  and  told 
the  party  to  confess  their  sins  as  they 
would  not  come  back  alive.  A  Catholic 
priest  among  the  number  seemed  par- 
ticularly anxious  for  the  welfare  of  the 
little  band.  Valenzuela,  the  Indian,  be- 
came so  fearful  at  hearing  such  a  warn- 
ing from  the  Yaquis  themselves  that  he 
left  the  boat  and  refused  to  go  any 
further. 

"I  have  been  to  Hermosillo  a  number 
of  times  since  we  have  been  in  camp. 
Wednesday,  last,  as  we  were  going 
and  coming  from  the  city,  we  drove  a 
mile  or  two  west  of  the  city  to  see  the 
farms  and  orange  groves.  I  am  sur- 
prised that  a  person  could  content  him- 
self in  as  dirty  a  place  as  the  old  town 

698 


of  Hermosillo  when  the  farms  adjoin- 
ing the  town  are  so  much  more  invit- 
ing. 

"Notwithstanding,  it  is  a  tiresome 
task  to  be  lying  in  a  camp  doing 
nothing.  .  .  .  We  have  had  a  feast  of  or- 
anges." 

The  following  is  a  letter  written  by 
Brigham  Young,  Jr.,  telling  of  the  ex- 
periences of  the  group  who  went  into 
the  Yaqui  country: 

"First  Village,  Megarng  of  the  Ya- 
quis, several  miles  above  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  Dec.  10th,  1884. 

"Dear  Brethren  at  Camp  Hermosillo: 

"We  are  in  good  health  but  have  labored 
hard  to  get  this  far.  I  wrote  you  we  were 
in  a  lagoon.  We  remained  there  last  night, 
wind  unfavorable  this  morning,  ran  further 
up  the  lagoon  and  hired  some  Yaquis  to  car- 
ry our  baggage  for  a  dollar  each,  to  this 
point  four  miles  across  the  worst  bottom 
land  I  have  seen  for  some  time.  We  tramped 
it  through  but  were  wading  in  water  and 
mud  knee  deep  nearly  every  step  of  the 
way. 

"Our  Yaquis  were  disposed  to  be  exact- 
ing, but  all  turned  out  well.  We  find  this 
is  just  as  far  as  we  can  go  without  a  pass. 
Cajeme  (Cahama)  is  far  up  the  river  or 
perhaps  six  miles  away,  and  the  next  in  com- 
mand must  give  us  a  pass  to  go  farther  to  find 
the  chief,  and  when  we  want  to  leave  can- 
not until  his  chiefship  gives  us  a  pass  to 
return  and  pass  this  cordon  of  settlements. 
We  have  declined  to  go  any  further  and 
have  sent  word  to  the  chief  that  we  would 
like  an  interview  if  he  will  signify  his 
pleasure  to  grant  it.  Boat  starts  in  the  morn- 
ing hence  we  are  hurried  to  write  as  it  is 
now  dark.  All  the  people  here  have  been 
exceedingly  kind  and  we  are  cared  for  by 
a  liberal-minded  fellow  whose  boat  we  hired. 
All  is  well  with  us.  It  is  rumored  that  Yaquis 
who  left  Guaymas  since  we  [did]  have 
brought  a  letter  from  the  padre  to  Cajeme, 
but  we  trust  in  the  Lord.  These  people  are 
just  like  the  Kanakas.  They  are  the  royal 
stock.  All  send  love  to  all.  God  bless  you. 
In  behalf  of  all.  "B.  Young" 

Of  their  visit,  Milton  L.  Ray,  the  of- 
ficial recorder,  writes: 

"All  well  except  Brother  Young.  .  .  . 
We  employed  a  Yaqui  to  go  and  look 
for  the  general  and  tell  him  we  would 
like  an  interview.  ...  A  little  while 
afterwards  we  saw  the  general  coming 
at  the  head  of  a  dozen  or  fifteen 
soldiers. .  .  .  Brother  Young  spoke  first, 
making  known  our  mission.  He  spoke 
to  me  in  English.  I  interpreted  what 
he  said  to  Bonifacio  in  Spanish,  who  in 
turn  gave  it  to  the  chief  in  his  own 
tongue.  For  though  the  chief  spoke 
Spanish  fluently,  he  could  not  com- 
promise his  dignity  by  receiving  a  com- 
munication in  any  but  his  native 
tongue.  .  . . 

"In  the  evening,  we  had  another 
meeting  and  talked  to  them  on  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  gospel.  I  read  and  trans- 
lated some  of  the  Book  of  Mormon. 
They  were  very  anxious  to  have  our 
elders  visit  them  and  bring  the  Book  of 
Mormon  and  read  and  teach  them  it. 
They  told  us  of  their  situation  in  Son- 
ora and  of  their  stand  for  their  rights, 
saying  they  meant  to  govern  them- 
selves. The  chief  said  they  believed 
our  teachings,  and  when  we  came  with 


the  Book  of  Mormon,  they  would  send 
a  commission  to  visit  our  people  (in 
Arizona )  and  to  go  and  visit  Salt  Lake 
City." 

President  Grant's  journal  continues 
the  narrative: 

"Sunday,  December  14,  1884:  Morn- 
ing spent  reading.  Brother  Young  and 
party  arrived  from  Guaymas  this  after- 
noon, and  with  the  exception  of  Broth- 
er Young  they  were  in  excellent  health 
and  spirits.  He  looked  very  bad,  and 
the  minute  I  saw  him  I  felt  impressed 
that  he  must  not  attempt  to  do  any 
traveling  by  team. 

"Monday,  December  15,  1884: 
Broke  camp  about  10  a.m.  and  drove  to 
the  Sonora  railroad  depot  where 
Brother  Young  and  I  separated  from 
the  brethren,  and  they  continued  their 
journey  by  team  to  Nogales.  At  3:10 
p.m.  our  train  pulled  out,  and  we  found 
ourselves  once  more  headed  for  home. 
Must  confess  that  I  feel  much  pleasure 
in  again  being  homeward  bound  and 
am  satisfied  with  our  mission  as  the 
Yaquis  whom  Brother  Young  and  his 
party  had  met  expressed  a  perfect 
willingness  to  have  our  missionaries 
come  among  them.  In  fact,  they  made 
the  brethren  promise  to  send  them  mis- 
sionaries with  the  Book  of  Mormon 
within  a  few  months.  They  expressed 
a  willingness  to  have  our  people  es- 
tablish a  settlement  in  their  country 
and  said  that  they  would  welcome  any 
of  our  people  who  were  being  perse- 
cuted. They  said  they  believed  what 
the  brethren  had  told  them  regarding 
the  Book  of  Mormon  was  the  truth." 

The  young  apostle  and  his  com- 
panion reached  Salt  Lake  City  on  De- 
cember 18,  1884. 

"Immediately  upon  the  account  of 
this  visit  to  the  Indians  being  made  pub- 
lic," so  reported  The  Deseret  News, 
"the  press,  particularly  of  the  United 
States,  detailed  the  particulars  of  an 
agreement  said  to  have  been  made  be- 
tween the  Mormons  and  the  Indians  by 
which  war  on  the  Mexican  government 
was  to  be  conducted  by  their  united 
forces.  The  agitation  became  so  full 
of  malice  as  to  move  President  Taylor 
to  abandon  the  idea  of  making  a  settle- 
ment of  the  Latter-day  Saints  in  the 
Yaqui  country  at  that  time."* 

The  promise  to  send  the  Book  of 
Mormon  to  these  people  was  delayed 
but  not  forgotten.  In  1887,  Wilford 
Woodruff,  then  president  of  the 
Church,  appointed  Ammon  M.  Tenney 
and  companions  to  return  to  the  Ya- 
quis, The  trouble  with  the  Mexican 
government  still  continued,  and  they 
were  not  allowed  to  enter  Yaqui  terri- 
tory, so  they  were  sent  to  labor  among 
the  Lamanites  of  Sonora.  The  Indian, 
Elder  Valenzuela,  who  had  become 
frightened  and  returned  to  camp  on  the 
previous  trip,  was  particularly  spirited 
in  bearing  his  testimony  to  his  brethren 
of  the  truth,  often  standing  on  his  feet 
and  preaching  for  ten  hours  at  a  time. 
Hundreds  of  Indians  were  baptized, 
and  great  faith  was  manifest. 

*L.  A.  Wilson,   The  Deseret  News. 


TO  THE  REPENTANT 


PRESIDENT   RUDGER   CLAWSON 


Brethren,  I  have  read  the  Bible  sev- 
eral times.  I  have  read  the  Book 
of  Mormon,  studied  it,  and  re- 
joiced in  the  teachings  thereof.  I  have 
rejoiced  in  reading  and  studying  the 
book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants,  and 
also  the  Pearl  of  Great  Price.  I  recom- 
mend these  books  to  many  honest  souls 
asking  questions  about  them.  These 
books  constitute  a  library,  one  of  the 
greatest  libraries  in  the  world,  because 
it  sets  forth  the  truth,  and  calls  atten- 
tion to  the  wages  of  evil,  and  warns 
against  the  evil. 

There  are  many  interesting  and  in- 
structive stories  and  principles  in  these 
good  books.  If  we  will  follow  the 
teachings  thereof  closely  through  our 
lives,  we  will  reach  a  safe  journey's  end. 

I  was  reading,  the  other  day,  from  the 
book  of  Alma,  who  was  the  son  of 
Alma.  I  think  likely  you  would  be  in- 
terested if  I  read  some,  this  afternoon, 
from  the  character  of  Alma  the  Second. 

This  Alma,  the  Second,  was  address- 
ing himself  to  his  son  Helaman.  This 
is  where  the  story  begins,  and  very  soon 
has  an  ending. 

My  son,  give  ear  to  my  words;  for  I  swear 
unto  you,  that  inasmuch  as  ye  shall  keep  the 
commandments  of  God  ye  shall  prosper  in 
the  land. 

I  would  that  ye  should  do  as  I  have  done, 
in  remembering  the  captivity  of  our  fathers; 
for  they  were  in  bondage,  and  none  could 
deliver  them  except  it  was  the  God  of  Abra- 
ham, and  the  God  of  Isaac,  and  the  God  of 
Jacob;  and  he  surely  did  deliver  them  in 
their  afflictions. 

And  now,  O  my  son  Helaman,  behold, 
thou  art  in  thy  youth,  and  therefore  I  be- 
seech of  thee  that  thou  wilt  hear  my  words 
and  learn  of  me;  for  I  do  know  that  whoso- 
ever shall  put  their  trust  in  God  shall  be 
supported  in  their  trials,  and  their  troubles, 
and  their  afflictions,  and  shall  be  lifted  up 
at  the  last  day. 

And  I  would  not  that  ye  think  that  I  know 
of  myself — not  of  the  temporal  but  of  the 
spiritual,  not  of  the  carnal  mind  but  of  God. 

Now,  behold,  I  say  unto  you,  if  I  had  not 
been  born  of  God  I  should  not  have  known 


By 
RUDGER  CLAWSON 

Of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 

Delivered  at  the  Saturday  Afternoon 
Session  of  the  113r/i  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle. 


these  things;  but  God  has,  by  the  mouth  of 
his  holy  angel,  made  these  things  known 
unto  me,  not  of  any  worthiness  of  myself; 

For  I  went  about  with  the  sons  of  Mosiah, 
seeking  to  destroy  the  church  of  God;  but 
behold,  God  sent  his  holy  angel  to  stop  us 
by  the  way. 

And  behold,  he  spake  unto  us,  as  it  were 
the  voice  of  thunder,  and  the  whole  earth 
did  tremble  beneath  our  feet;  and  we  all  fell 
to  the  earth,  for  the  fear  of  the  Lord  came 
upon  us. 

But  behold,  the  voice  said  unto  me:  Arise. 
And  I  arose  and  stood  up,  and  beheld  the 
angel. 

And  he  said  unto  me:  If  thou  wilt  of  thy- 
self be  destroyed,  seek  no  more  to  destroy 
the  church  of  God. 

And  it  came  to  pass  that  I  fell  to  the 
earth;  and  it  was  for  the  space  of  three  days 
and  three  nights  that  I  could  not  open  my 
mouth,  neither  had  I  the  use  of  my  limbs. 

And  the  angel  spake  more  things  unto 
me,  which  were  heard  by  my  brethren,  but 
I  did  not  hear  them;  for  when  I  heard  the 
words — If  thou  wilt  be  destroyed  of  thy- 
self, seek  no  more  to  destroy  the  church  of 
God — I  was  struck  with  such  great  fear  and 
amazement  lest  perhaps  I  should  be  de- 
stroyed, that  I  fell  to  the  earth  and  I  did 
hear  no  more. 

But  I  was  racked  with  eternal  torment,  for 
my  soul  was  harrowed  up  to  the  greatest 
degree  and  racked  with  all  my  sins. 

Yea,  I  did  remember  all  my  sins  and  in- 
iquities, for  which  I  was  tormented  with  the 
pains  of  hell:  yea,  I  saw  that  I  had  rebelled 
against  my  God,  and  that  I  had  not  kept  his 
holy  commandments. 

Yea,  and  I  had  murdered  many  of  his 
children,  or  rather,  led  them  away  unto  de- 
struction; yea,  and  in  fine  so  great  had  been 
my  iniquities,  that  the  very  thought  of  com- 
ing into  the  presence  of  my  God  did  rack 
my  soul  with  inexpressible  horror. 

Oh,  thought  I,  that  I  could  be  banished 
and  become  extinct  both  soul  and  body, 
that  I  might  not  be  brought  to  stand  in  the 
presence  of  my  God,  to  be  judged  of  my 
deeds. 

And  now,  for  three  days  and  for  three 
nights  was  I  racked,  even  with  the  pains  of 
a  damned  soul. 

And  it  came  to  pass  that  as  I  was  thus 
racked  with  torment,  while  I  was  harrowed 
up  by  the  memory  of  my  many  sins,  behold, 
I  remembered  also  to  have  heard  my  father 
prophesy  unto  the  people  concerning  the 
coming  of  one  Jesus  Christ,  a  Son  of  God, 
to  atone  for  the  sins  of  the  world. 


Now,  as  my  mind  caught  hold  upon  this 
thought,  I  cried  within  my  heart:  O  Jesus, 
thou  Son  of  God,  have  mercy  on  me,  who 
am  in  the  gall  of  bitterness,  and  am  encircled 
about  by  the  everlasting  chains  of  death. 

And  now,  behold,  when  I  thought  this, 
I  could  remember  my  pains  no  more;  yea, 
I  was  harrowed  up  by  the  memory  of  my 
sins  no  more. 

And  oh,  what  joy,  and  what  marvelous 
light  I  did  behold;  yea,  my  soul  was  filled 
with  joy  as  exceeding  as  was  my  pain! 

Yea,  I  say  unto  you,  my  son,  that  there 
could  be  nothing  so  exquisite  and  so  bitter 
as  were  my  pains.  Yea,  and  again  I  say 
unto  you,  my  son,  that  on  the  other  hand, 
there  can  be  nothing  so  exquisite  and  sweet 
as  was  my  joy. 

Yea,  methought  I  saw,  even  as  our  father 
Lehi  saw,  God  sitting  upon  his  throne,  sur- 
rounded with  numberless  concourses  of  an- 
gels, in  the  attitude  of  singing  and  praising 
their  God;  yea,  and  my  soul  did  long  to  be 
there. 

But  behold,  my  limbs  did  receive  their 
strength  again,  and  I  stood  upon  my  feet, 
and  did  manifest  unto  the  people  that  I  had 
been  born  of  God. 

Yea,  and  from  that  time  even  until  now, 
I  have  labored  without  ceasing,  that  I  might 
bring  souls  unto  repentance;  that  I  might 
bring  them  to  taste  of  the  exceeding  joy  of 
which  I  did  taste;  that  they  might  also  be 
born  of  God,  and  be  filled  with  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

Yea,  and  now  behold,  O  my  son,  the  Lord 
doth  give  me  exceeding  great  joy  in  the 
fruit  of  my  labors; 

For  because  of  the  word  which  he  has 
imparted  unto  me,  behold,  many  have  been 
born  of  God,  and  have  tasted  as  I  have 
tasted,  and  have  seen  eye  to  eye  as  I  have 
seen;  therefore  they  do  know  of  these  things 
of  which  I  have  spoken,  as  I  do  know;  and 
the  knowledge  which  I  have  is  of  God. 

And  I  have  been  supported  under  trials 
and  trouble  of  every  kind,  yea,  and  in  all 
manner  of  afflictions:  yea,  God  has  deliv- 
ered me  from  prison,  and  from  bonds,  and 
from  death;  yea,  and  I  do  put  my  trust  in 
him,  and  he  will  still  deliver  me. 

And  I  know  that  he  will  raise  me  up  at 
the  last  day,  to  dwell  with  him  in  glory; 
yea,  and  I  will  praise  him  forever,  for  he  has 
brought  our  fathers  out  of  Egypt,  and  he 
has  swallowed  up  the  Egyptians  in  the 
Red  Sea;  and  he  led  them  by  his  power  into 
the  promised  land;  yea,  and  he  has  delivered 
them  out  of  bondage  and  captivity  from 
time  to  time.     (Alma  36:1-28) 

"NJow,  brethren,  this  is  a  remarkable 
■^  case.  It  shows  the  love  and  mercy 
of  God  that  was  shown  to  this  man 
when  he  repented  of  his  sins.  God  took 
mercy  upon  him  and  forgave  him  of 
his  sins,  and  he  accomplished  a  mighty 
work  among  his  people,  and  he  became 
high  priest  in  the  Church. 

May  the  Lord  bless  you,  my  breth- 
ren. This  large  audience  is  a  great 
sight,  but  I  must  not  linger  as  there  are 
others  yet  to  speak. 

Peace  be  with  you.    Amen. 

699 


SOWERS  >M.  REAPERS 


PRESIDENT  LEVI   EDGAR  YOUNG 

I  was  deeply  touched  by  the  address 
of  President  Grant,  which  was  read 
by  President  McKay  this  morning. 
On  the  day  that  President  Grant  was 
chosen  as  one  of  the  Twelve  Apostles 
by  a  revelation  of  the  Lord  to  President 
John  Taylor,  my  father  was  also  called 
and  ordained  a  member  of  the  First 
Council  of  the  Seventy.  He  succeeded 
his  father,  President  Joseph  Young,  who 
was  ordained  to  his  position  by  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith  in  the  Kirtland 
Temple  in  February,  1 835.  My  grand- 
father and  my  father  both  had  deep  and 
abiding  testimonies  of  the  divinity  of  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  as  it  was  restored 
by  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith.  I  am 
grateful  to  the  Lord  for  the  same  testi- 
mony, for  I  know  that  God  lives,  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  Savior  of  the  world, 
and  that  Joseph  Smith  was  a  prophet  of 
God,  for  he  spoke  for  God  and  was 
sharer  of  God's  counsels.  He  was  the 
bearer  and  preacher  of  God's  Word, 
and  opened  one  of  the  greatest  stages  of 
religion  in  the  history  of  mankind. 

My  brethren  of  the  seventies,  we  are 
awakened  to  the  great  responsibilities 
of  teaching  the  gospel  to  all  mankind. 
If  ever  the  world  needed  the  Word  of 
God,  it  is  today.  For  this  reason  we 
must  have  vision,  which  gives  us  a  view 
of  the  future  as  well  as  insight  into  con- 
ditions of  the  present.  The  calling  of 
the  seventy  is  an  ideal  of  fellowship, 
with  sacred  obligations  to  God.  Our 
spiritual  obligations  must  make  for  unity 
and  concord,  and  promote  a  spiritual 
culture  within  our  ranks,  which  will 
give  us  power  to  teach  the  Word.  From 
now  on,  we  of  the  organizations  of  sev- 
enty will  glorify  our  work  as  never  be- 
fore, for  I  believe  that  the  world  is 
waiting  for  the  truths  of  God.  Every 
one  of  us  has  a  sacred  duty  and  trust, 
700 


By 
LEVI  EDGAR  YOUNG 

of  the  First  Council  of  the  Seventy 

Delivered  at  the  Saturday  Afternoon 
Session  of  the  \\3th  Semiannual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle. 


and  while  we  as  missionaries  have  our 
daily  vocations,  the  most  joyful  recrea- 
tion is  in  going  to  the  homes  of  people 
with  the  gospel  message.  Remember  the 
divine  injunction:  "Not  slothful  in  bus- 
iness, fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the 
Lord."  Our  hearts  need  not  be  troubled 
or  afraid,  if  we  have  the  simple  faith  in 
God  and  the  work  He  has  given  us  to 
do.  We  remember  the  words  of  the 
Prophet  Micah : 

...  in  the  last  days  it  shall  come  to  pass, 
that  the  mountain  of  the  house  of  the  Lord 
shall  be  established  in  the  top  of  the  moun- 
tains, and  it  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills; 
and  people  shall  flow  unto  it.  And  many 
nations  shall  come,  and  say,  Come,  let  us  go 
up  to  the  mountain  of  the  Lord.  .  .  .  (Micah 
4:1-2) 

The  nations  have  come  to  the  moun- 
tain of  the  Lord,  and  they  will  continue 
to  come  and  be  taught  by  you,  my  breth- 
ren, for  the  prophet  continues  and  says: 

.  .  .  they  shall  beat  their  swords  into 
ploughshares,  and  their  spears  into  pruning- 
hooks:  nation  shall  not  lift  up  a  sword 
against  nation,  neither  shall  they  learn  war 
any  more.      (Micah  4:3) 

You  stake  mission  presidents  should 
call  your  brethren  around  you  and  teach 
the  gospel.  Remember  when  you  ap- 
proach people,  you  will  receive  from 
them  the  same  thought  that  you  give 
them.  If  hate,  you  will  receive  hate;  if 
love,  it  will  be  love.  God  will  be  the 
judge  of  institutions  and  people;  it  is 
your  duty  to  "love  the  Lord  thy  God 
with  your  might,  mind,  and  strength, 
and  thy  neighbor  as  thyself."  In  his  let- 
ter to  the  Ephesians,  Paul  speaks  of  the 
grace  that  is  given  each  one: 

.  .  .  for  the  work  of  the  ministry  .  .  . 
Till  we  all  come  in  the  unity  of  the  faith, 
and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God, 
unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the 
stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ.  (Ephe- 
sians 4:12-13) 

We  pray  that  the  missionaries  of  all 
the  stakes  of  Zion  will  from  now  on 
have  new  life.  We  must  turn  our 
thoughts  forward,  for  the  gospel  will 
meet  every  man's  wants,  and  protect 
and  guide  his  life.  You  will  see  your 
labors  rewarded.  Sowers  and  reapers 
will  rejoice  together.  You  are  com- 
mitted to  nothing  but  the  truth.  People 
will  listen  to  you.  God  bless  all  the  mis- 
sionaries in  the  Church,  that  they  may 
see  the  importance  of  the  work  as  never 
before,  and  go  forth  with  the  Light  of 
God  in  their  hearts,  I  humbly  pray. 
Amen. 


BROADCAST 

Immediately  after  the  conclusion  of 
the  traditional  nationwide  Taber- 
nacle broadcast,  Sunday  morning, 
October  4,  an  additional  thirty- minute 
period,  regularly  known  as  the  Colum- 
bia Church  of  the  Air,  was  presented 
from  11:00  to  11:30  a.m.,  over  the  na- 
tionwide Columbia  network  as  a  part  of 
the  proceedings  of  this  session  of  the 
conference.  President  David  O. 
McKay,  second  counselor  in  the  First 
Presidency,  delivered  the  address, 
which  begins  on  page  690. 

The  program  was  conducted  by 
Elder  Richard  L.  Evans,  of  the  First 
Council  of  the  Seventy,  whose  con- 
tinuity follows: 

Theme:  "Sweet  is  the  Work" — McClel- 
lan — Organ   and   humming   voices. 

Richard  L.  Evans:  Columbia's  Church 
of  the  Air. 

Evans  :  A  decade  ago  the  Church  of  the 
Air  was  brought  into  being  by  the  Columbia 
network  to  give  opportunity  to  representa- 
tives of  the  major  faiths  to  bring  their 
messages  to  a  nationwide  congregation  of 
worshipers.  Since  that  time  these  religious 
services  have  been  heard  twice  each  Sun- 
day. Today,  in  the  twelfth  year  of  the 
Church  of  the  Air,  the  service  comes  to 
you  through  Station  KSL  as  part  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  113th  Semi-annual  Con- 
ference of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter-day  Saints,  now  in  session.  The 
service  originates  in  the  Mormon  Taber- 
nacle on  Temple  Square  in  Salt  Lake  City, 
and  the  congregation  which  fills  the  Taber- 
nacle includes  the  General  Authorities  and 
representatives  of  the  worldwide  Priesthood 
organizations  of  the  Church.  The  speaker 
will  be  President  David  O.  McKay,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Presidency. 

The  Tabernacle  choir  joins  in  the  serv- 
ice and  will  sing  now  "O  Light  Divine"  by 
LeRoy  Frisby. 

(Choir  sings,  "O  Light  Divine" — Frisby) 

Evans  :  We  now  turn  the  service  into 
the  hands  of  President  David  O.  McKay  of 
the  First  Presidency  of  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints.  The  subject 
of  President  McKay's  address:  "The  Light 
that  Shines  in  Darkness." 

President  McKay  .  .  .  (See  page  690.) 

(After  the  address  of  President  McKay 
and  the  singing  of  "See  the  Mighty  Angel 
Flying"  by  the  male  voices  of  the  choir,  the 
following  closing  announcement  was 
given : ) 

Evans:  Ladies  and  Gentlemen:  You 
have  been  attending  Columbia's  Church  of 
the  Air.  The  service  today  has  come  through 
Station  KSL,  from  the  Mormon  Tabernacle 
on  Temple  Square  in  Salt  Lake  City,  as 
part  of  the  proceedings  of  the  113th  Semi- 
annual Conference  of  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints,  also  known  as 
the  Mormon  Church.  Filling  the  Tabernacle 
was  a  congregation  of  men  including  the 
General  Authorities  and  representatives  of 
the  worldwide  Priesthood  organizations  of 
the  Church.  The  speaker  was  President 
David  O.  McKay,  a  member  of  the  First 
Presidency.  Copies  of  President  McKay's 
sermon,  "The  Light  that  Shines  in  Dark- 
ness," may  be  obtained  by  writing  to  the 
station  to  which  you  are  listening. 

The  Tabernacle  choir  joined  in  the  serv- 
ice with  J.  Spencer  Cornwall  conducting 
and  Dr.  Frank  W.  Asper  at  the  organ. 


jhL  POWER  +  EXAMPLE 


By 
LEGRAND  RICHARDS 

Presiding  Bishop 


Delivered  at  the  Saturday  Afternoon 
Session  of  the  113th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle. 


BISHOP    LEGRAND    RICHARDS 


With  all  my  heart,  brethren,  I  ap- 
preciate the  opportunity  o£  be- 
ing here  today,  feasting  on  the 
spiritual  food  that  we  have  been  receiv- 
ing from  our  leaders  and  associates.  I 
thank  the  Lord  that  there  never  has 
been  a  time  in  my  life  that  a  shadow  of 
a  doubt  has  crossed  my  mind  as  to  the 
divinity  of  this  work  and  the  divine 
calling  of  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  and 
those  who  have  succeeded  him  in  the 
Presidency  of  this  Church.  I  thrilled 
today  with  President  Grant's  testi- 
mony, as  it  was  read  to  us  by  President 
McKay,  and  I  was  delighted  with  the 
message  of  the  First  Presidency  de- 
livered to  us  this  morning  by  President 
Clark.  Of  all  the  leadership  in  the 
world  today,  surely  there  is  none  com- 
parable to  that  which  we  have  in  the 
Church.  How  safe  and  secure  we  should 
feel  in  following  their  precepts  and 
their  example. 

A  few  days  ago  I  received  a  letter 
from  a  man  in  the  East  with  whom  I 
have  had  some  correspondence — a 
prominent  business  man,  but  not  a  mem- 
ber of  our  Church.  I  forwarded  him 
some  of  our  literature.  He  and  his  wife 
have  read  the  Book  of  Mormon  three 
times.  He  has  just  read  the  Articles  of 
Faith  and  writes  a  beautiful  apprecia- 
tion for  the  truths  contained  therein. 
But  I  would  like  to  read  from  his  letter 
his  comment  after  having  read  the  mes- 
sage of  the  First  Presidency  delivered 
at  the  April  conference.  He  says:  "The 
message  of  the  First  Presidency  was 
read  with  intense  interest.  It  portrays 
the  mind  of  a  soul  deeply  interested  in 
the  welfare  of  a  higher  civilization,  with 
a  clear  understanding  of  'mercy  and 
justice.'  '  It  is  good  to  know  that  think- 
ing men,  though  not  of  us,  recognize  the 
power  of  leadership  of  those  whom  the 
Lord  has  placed  to  guide  His  people  in 
these  days. 


VWe  have  a  great  responsibility,  those 
vv  of  us  who  are  here  today.  For  we 
represent  the  leadership  of  this  Church 
— the  General  Authorities  and  those 
who  preside  in  the  stakes,  the  wards, 
and  the  Priesthood  quorums  of  the 
Church.  We  have  problems  and  re- 
sponsibilities and  opportunities  probab- 
ly such  as  we  have  never  had  before, 
particularly  in  these  defense  areas.  I 
hope  we  will  realize  that  there  will  be 
more  expected  of  us — that  our  arms  will 
be  just  a  little  longer,  and  our  love  a 
little  deeper,  and  our  faith  a  little  more 
sincere,  and  that  our  confidence  and 
trust  in  God  and  the  ultimate  triumph  of 
His  work  in  the  earth  may  never  falter. 

I  hope  the  bishops  will  realize  that 
they  are  in  very  deed  fathers  of  the 
people,  all  who  live  within  the  confines 
of  their  wards  whether  their  names  be 
on  their  records  or  not.  Many  have 
come  from  outside  places  and  they  need 
care  and  attention.  I  hope  the  bishops 
will  also  sense  their  great  responsibili- 
ty as  presidents  of  the  Aaronic  Priest- 
hood in  their  wards — that  the  ward 
teachers  will  realize  that  their  responsi- 
bility is  greater  than  ever  before,  that 
the  presidencies  of  Priesthood  quorums 
and  all  charged  with  responsibility  in 
this  Church  will  respond  thereto  as 
never  before.  And  I  wouldn't  like  to 
overlook  the  seventies,  for  I  feel  with 
Brother  Kirkham  the  great  importance 
of  missionary  work,  for  the  Lord  has 
decreed  that  the  gospel  shall  be 
preached  in  all  the  world  for  a  witness 
to  all  nations,  even  to  every  creature.  I 
feel  that  there  are  added  opportunities 
within  our  reach  today,  and  I  hope  that 
we  will  meet  these  responsibilities  in 
such  a  way  that  whoever  comes  into  our 
communities  need  never  go  away  and 
say  that  he  was  not  given  an  opportuni- 
ty to  hear  the  gospel  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  from  the  elders  of  this  Church. 

I  would  like  to  leave  one  other 
thought  with  you  before  closing.  It 
has  been  said  that  those  who  live  in 
glass  houses  should  not  throw  stones. 
Probably  it  was  because  Paul  never  had 
any  children  of  his  own  that  he  wasn't 
afraid  to  tell  the  bishops  and  deacons 
that  they  should  be  able  to  rule  well 
their  own  houses,  for  said  he:  "If  a 
man  know  not  how  to  rule  his  own 


house,  how  shall  he  take  care  of  the 
church  of  God."  Some  of  us  may  not 
have  dared  say  such  a  thing,  but  I  be- 
lieve that  under  present  conditions  we 
should  give  more  thought  to  this,  each 
one  of  us  individually,  than  we  have 
ever  done  before. 

\\7e  listened  to  President  Clawson  a 
v  v  few  minutes  ago  reading  the  words 
of  Alma.  It  has  always  occurred  to  me 
that  that  great  mission  of  Alma,  the  son, 
was  the  result  of  the  faith  and  the  pray- 
ers of  Alma,  his  father,  who  pleaded 
with  the  Lord  until  the  Lord  saw  fit  to 
call  him  back  from  the  error  of  his  ways. 
I  wonder  if  we  are  doing  that  for  our 
boys  and  girls.  I  wonder  if  we  are 
holding  council  meetings  as  husbands 
and  wives,  and  fathers  and  mothers,  to 
try  to  meet  the  new  conditions  and 
temptations  that  are  in  our  midst.  I 
wonder  if  we  know  each  one  of  our 
children  well  enough  to  know  that  they 
are  making  their  contribution  to  the 
building  up  of  the  kingdom  of  God  in 
the  earth.  Are  our  children  setting  an 
example  because  of  our  power  as  lead- 
ers and  priests  in  our  own  homes? 

A  few  days  ago,  I  received  a  letter 
from  one  of  our  boys  in  the  service,  and 
I  commend  the  counsel  given  in  this  con- 
ference, that  we  write  them.  He  said 
he  had  just  been  ordained  an  elder  in 
the  Church,  and  he  thanked  the  Lord 
for  that  more  than  for  any  other  thing. 
While  he  has  been  in  the  service  he  has 
changed  his  way  of  living  so  that  he  is 
setting  an  example  in  upholding  the 
standards  of  this  Church. 

But  how  did  he  get  started  in  the  way 
of  righteousness?  His  grandmother  in 
one  of  our  stakes  was  concerned  about 
him,  because  his  mother  was  dead.  She 
wrote  a  letter  and  asked  if  we  would 
write  to  this  boy.  We  finally  located 
him,  and  the  first  letter  we  received 
told  how  he  was  in  California  and  heard 
two  missionaries  speaking  on  the  street 
corner  and  lady  missionaries  singing; 
and  he  said  he  wouldn't  have  gone  and 
spoken  to  them  for  anything  in  the 
world.  He  was  afraid.  He  drew  a  dia- 
gram showing  how  he  went  down  to 
the  corner  and  back  again,  and  then 
down  to  the  corner  and  back  again,  and 
finally  he  found  himself  standing  talk- 
ing to  the  missionaries.  In  his  letter  he 
asked:  "Do  you  think  the  Lord  had 
anything  to  do  with  this?"  As  far  as  I 
am  concerned  I  think  the  prayers  of  that 
grandmother  and  the  importunities  pro- 
bably of  his  mother  who  had  gone  be- 
yond, were  the  means  of  bringing  that: 
boy  back  into  line  of  duty  and  right- 
eousness. 

God  help  us  to  labor  with  our  chil- 
dren, to  pray  with  them,  to  see  that  our 
own  are  setting  an  example  in  the 
Church.  It  will  do  more  than  all  the 
preaching  we  can  do.  God  help  us  to 
do  it,  I  pray  in  Jesus'  name.    Amen. 

701 


TRUEi°iA*  FAITH 


By  GEORGE  ALBERT  SMITH 

Of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 

Delivered  at  the  Saturday  Evening  Session  of  the  113th  Semi-annual 
General  Conference,  October  3,  1942,  in  the  Tabernacle. 


WE  certainly  have  had  a  glorious 
time  today.  From  the  first  prayer 
that  was  offered,  the  first  hymn 
sung,  this  house  has  been  the  abiding 
place  of  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord.  Those 
of  us  who  have  assembled  have  un- 
doubtedly been  enriched  by  the  experi- 
ences through  which  we  have  passed. 
Reference  has  been  made  to  the  fact 
that  recently  one  of  the  brethren  had 
visited  some  of  our  shrines,  if  we  may 
call  them  shrines,  and  that  reminds  me 
that  within  the  last  year  I  have  been  at 
the  birthplace  of  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith.  It  is  just  about  the  same  size 
village  as  it  was  when  he  was  born.  I 
have  been  at  Kirtland,  Ohio,  where  the 
Latter-day  Saints  built  a  temple.  It  is 
the  largest  building  in  that  section  of 
the  country  now,  and  Kirtland  is  a  vil- 
lage shrunk  to  the  point  that  it  no  longer 
has  a  post  office.  I  also  have  been  at 
Far  West  where  there  were  three  thou- 
sand of  our  people,  when  they  were 
driven  out,  and  there  are  only  three 
buildings  on  the  tract  of  land  that  we 
referred  to  as  Far  West — only  three, 
and  very  poor  buildings  at  that.  I  have 
been  thinking  also  of  other  places  where 
our  people  lived,  where  they  have  de- 
veloped lands  and  built  houses,  and  then 
were  compelled  to  leave  their  homes  and 
go  away.  Independence,  Missouri,  is 
no  larger  in  point  of  population,  or  little 
larger,  than  it  was  a  hundred  years  ago. 
The  section  of  country  around  Nauvoo 
is  just  a  village.  Nauvoo,  when  the 
Saints  were  driven  out,  was  a  city  of 
more  than  twenty  thousand  people,  and 
today  it  has  neither  a  streetcar  nor  a 
railroad  train,  and  its  population  does 
not  exceed  one  thousand  people.  Our 
people  came  out  of  the  world  because 
they  were  compelled  to  come.  It  was 
a  choice  between  the  world  and  the 
wilderness,  but  see  what  the  Lord 
wrought  and  see  how  He  has  fulfilled 
His  promise. 

"Seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God 
and  his  righteousness;  and  all  things 
will  be  added  unto  you." 

You  will  find  no  place  even  today, 
in  all  America,  no  house  of  worship, 
equal  to  the  house  you  are  sitting  in 
now,  in  point  of  convenience  and  the 
ability  to  hear  the  voices  of  those  who 
speak.  I  know  of  no  city  more  beauti- 
fully laid  out,  in  all  America,  than  this 
with  its  one  hundred  forty  thousand 
population,  and  we  have  other  fine 
cities.  The  Lord  brought  us  here  when 
it  was  a  wilderness,  and  He  has  made 
it  delightful  to  dwell  in.  Surely  we  are 
grateful  for  our  heritage. 
702 


This  morning  the  patriarch  to  the 
Church  was  introduced  to  you.  His 
remarkable  lineage  is  worth  tracing.  He 
is  a  son  of  one  of  the  mighty  apostles 
of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter- 


GEORGE  ALBERT  SMITH 

day  Saints.  He  is  the  grandson  of  one 
of  the  great  presidents  of  the  Church. 
He  is  a  great-grandson  of  Hyrum  Smith, 
the  martyr,  who  was  the  brother  of  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith,  who  gave  his 
life  with  his  brother  that  this  gospel 
might  be  kept  in  the  world.  He  is  a 
great-great-grandson  of  Joseph  Smith, 
Senior,  the  first  patriarch  in  the  Church 
of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints  to 
be  so  designated,  and  the  first  man  to 
receive  the  testimony  of  Joseph  Smith 
the  Prophet  that  he  had  beheld  a  heav- 
enly vision  and  had  listened  to  the 
voice  of  an  angel. 

Every  family  that  came  into  the 
Church  in  the  early  days  and  remained 
faithful  has  enjoyed  rich  blessings  that 
could  be  obtained  in  no  other  way.  The 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day 
Saints  is  not  just  another  church.  It  is 
His  Church  who  gave  it  His  name.  The 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  is  the  loving  ad- 
vice of  a  kind  and  Heavenly  Father 
who,  knowing  the  end  from  the  begin- 
ning, says,  "This  is  the  pathway — -walk 
in  it,  and  ye  shall  find  the  celestial  king- 
dom," and  there  is  no  other  pathway 
that  leads  to  that  kingdom. 

Where  are  those  who  left  the  Church 


about  the  time  of  the  martyrdom  of  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith  expecting  to  de- 
velop a  church  and  lead  the  people? 
What  has  happened  to  them?  I  made  a 
mental  note  while  sitting  here  of  the 
failure  of  James  J.  Strang,  Sidney  Rig- 
don,  Jason  W.  Briggs,  James  H.  Gur- 
ley,  Lyman  Wight,  Granville  Hedrick, 
and  I  might  name  others  but  I  will  not 
take  time.  What  became  of  them  and 
where  are  their  followers  today?  You 
could  put  all  of  them  that  make  any 
claim  to  following  those  men,  in  this 
building  and  they  would  be  lost.  This 
is  only  one  of  the  great  structures  of 
the  Church  with  which  you  are  iden- 
tified that  if  it  were  required  could  be 
filled  many,  many  times  over,  not  by 
all  the  people,  but  by  the  Priesthood 
alone. 

T    am    thankful    for    my    membership 

in  this,  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ. 
I  think  that  nobody  could  be  more 
thankful  than  I  or  more  grateful  for 
parents  and  grandparents  who  were 
faithful  Latter-day  Saints.  We  must 
not  forget  that  when  we  see  all  the 
richness  of  our  lives  we  can't  separate 
it  from  the  righteousness  of  our  moth- 
ers. It  is  a  wonderful  thing  to  know, 
as  Nephi  of  old,  who  said  he  was  born 
of  goodly  parents — he  didn't  say  just 
a  goodly  father.  He  was  born  of  good- 
ly parents,  and  we  would  do  well  when 
we  think  of  our  blessings  to  remember 
our  mothers  and  our  grandmothers  and 
our  great-grandmothers.  Wherever 
there  was  a  great  leader  in  Israel  there 
was  a  great  wife  or  mother  or  both  who 
stood  by  his  side.  I  am  thankful  to  be 
here  with  you.    It  is  a  blessed  privilege. 

That  was  a  marvelous  message  that 
was  received  this  morning  from  the 
Presidency  of  the  Church — you  can't 
duplicate  it  in  any  other  church  in  the 
world;  and  you  can't  think  of  anything 
that  would  be  desirable  to  enrich  the 
Church  and  to  prepare  us  for  a  place 
in  the  celestial  kingdom  that  was  not 
included  in  that  message.  A  marvelous 
gathering  of  facts  and  figures  and  ad- 
vice and  counsel  that  we  would  all  do 
well  to  listen  to  and  profit  by. 

Now  tonight  we  are  here  in  peace 
and  quiet.  The  world  is  on  fire.  Every- 
where peace  has  been  taken  from  the 
earth,  and  the  devil  has  been  given 
power  over  his  own  dominion.  God 
has  said  if  we  will  honor  Him  and  keep 
His  commandments — if  we  will  ob- 
serve His  laws  He  will  fight  our  battles 
and  destroy  the  wicked,  and  when  the 
time  comes  He  will  come  down  in 
heaven — not  from  heaven — but  He  will 
bring  heaven  with  Him — and  this  earth 
upon  which  we  dwell,  will  be  the  celes- 
tial kingdom. 

What  if  all  the  world  knew  and  be- 
lieved that?  What  a  change  there 
would  be  in  the  conditions  among  the 
children  of  men!  What  joy  would  be  in 
the  place  of  sorrow  and  distress  today! 
It  is  your  duty  and  mine,  having  re- 
ceived this  information,  to  impart  it  to 
others. 

We  are  a  little  handful  of  people 

among  the  children  of  men,  but  possess- 

(Concluded  on  page  747) 


OUR  ASPIRATIONS  —  COVENANTS 

By  GEORGE  F.  RICHARDS 

Of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 

Delivered  at  the  Saturday  Evening  Session  of  the  With  Semiannual 
General  Conference,  October  3,  1942,  in  the  Tabernacle. 


W^iiLE  sitting  here  upon  the  stand, 
realizing  that  I  might  be  called 
upon  to  speak,  I  have  wondered 
what  I  might  be  able  to  say  that  would 
be  germane  to  this  occasion,  something 
in  which  we  might  all  be  interested  and 
possibly  be  profited.  I  have  come  to 
this  conclusion,  brethren,  that  everyone 
of  us  is  a  candidate  for  the  blessings  of 
eternal  life  and  exaltation,  and  that 
nothing  short  of  a  fulness  of  glory  will 
satisfy  us  after  this  life.  That  suggests 
that  we  have  something  to  do  while  we 
live  here  upon  the  earth  and  should  not 
forget  the  purpose  of  our  being  here — 
the  goal  of  our  existence  and  that  which 
we  desire  to  attain.  And  if  we  attain 
eternal  life,  brethren  of  the  Priesthood, 
it  will  be  through  the  Church  and  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  with  the  Holy 
Priesthood. 

The  Savior  said  to  Nicodemus,  a 
ruler  of  the  Jews,  "Except  a  man  be 
born  of  the  water  and  of  the  Spirit,  he 
cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God." 
We  are  all  on  common  ground  again  in 
that  we  have,  all  of  us,  been  born  again 
of  the  water  and  of  the  spirit  and  have 
entered  the  kingdom  of  God  on  earth 
and  have  received  our  membership  in 
this  way.  Where  we  have  received 
blessings  of  this  character  from  the 
Lord,  the  saving  ordinances  of  the  gos- 
pel, there  is  always  a  covenant  of  faith- 
fulness attached.  And  so  we  might  ask 
what  is  the  covenant  that  we  have  en- 
tered into  in  receiving  the  gospel.  I  can 
say  for  myself  when  I  received  baptism 
I  was  placed  under  a  covenant  that  I 
would  henceforth  keep  the  command- 
ments of  God  as  fast  as  they  are  made 
known  unto  me.  This  was  done  with 
uplifted  hand  before  God,  angels,  and 
witnesses  present. 

I  do  not  know  to  what  extent  that 
practice  obtained  in  the  Church  or  how 
long  since  it  obtained  in  that  particular 
ward  where  I  was  born  and  where  I 
was  baptized,  but  I  have  reached  this 
conclusion,  brethren,  that  every  person 
that  has  been  baptized  into  this  Church 
has  received  this  covenant  or  has  made 
this  covenant,  if  not  verbally,  the  very 
fact  of  accepting  the  gospel  through 
baptism,  and  confirmation,  has  made 
this  covenant.  That  responsibility  rests 
upon  every  member  of  the  Church.  We 
hear  people,  sometimes,  in  praying,  ask 
the  Lord  to  help  us  to  keep  the  cove- 
nants that  we  have  made  at  the  waters 
of  baptism.     I  know  of  no  other  cove- 


nant that  we  have  made  in  entering  the 
Church  through  baptism,  and  that  is 
very  important,  brethren.  The  gospel, 
with  our  membership  in  the  Church  and 
kingdom  of  God  here  on  earth,  is  one 
of  the  greatest  blessings  that  our  Father 
in  heaven  has  to  give,  and  necessarily 
a  solemn  covenant  of  faithfulness  should 
be  exacted. 

Another  thing,  we  all  hold  the  Mel- 
chizedek  Priesthood.  In  this  we  are  on 
common  ground;  and  in  receiving  this 
Priesthood  on  the  same  principle  we 
have  entered  into  a  solemn  oath  and 
covenant  with  God  our  Father  that  we 
will  magnify  that  Priesthood,  and  He 
with  us,  that  all  He  has  shall  be  given 
unto  us.  Most  of  these  brethren  hold 
offices  that  grow  out  of  the  Priesthood, 
and  in  order  to  magnify  the  Priesthood 
we  will  have  to  magnify  these  offices 
which  we  hold. 

We  have  had  the  privilege  and  many 
of  us  have  accepted  the  privilege  of  go- 
ing to  the  temple  and  receiving  the  holy 
endowments,  and  there  we  are  told  that 
they  are  to  prepare  us  to  enter  into  the 
celestial  kingdom  and  to  receive  an  ex- 
altation therein.  But  we  have  to  enter 
into  covenants  of  faithfulness;  and  any 
man  who  desires  to  be  faithful  and  in- 
tends to  be  faithful  in  keeping  the  com- 
mandments of  God  will  not  be  afraid 


QUIET  FAITH 
By  Eva  Willes  Wangsgaard 

A  friend  of  growth  is  Patience.     In  No- 
vember, 
She  hovers  where  the  barren  poplars  rise — 
Tall,  oval  cones  of  grandeur  in  September, 

Now  empty  sieves  that  screen  the  greying 

skies. 
She  brooded  long,  where  orchard  trees  are 

yielding 

The  opulence  they  drew  from  patient  Earth, 

And   gave  to  man  in  fruits  and  nuts,   for 
shielding 

The  holy  secrets  of  the  year's  rebirth. 

She  hummed  a  lullaby  for  sleepy  summer, 

The  nameless  murmurings  of  numerous  bees, 

Where    honeysuckles     fed    each    winging 
comer, 

A  lush  reward  for  aiding  mysteries. 

My  heart  has  need  of  her,  for  every  season 

Shames  with  a  quiet  faith  my  loud  unreason. 


GEORGE  F.   RICHARDS 

to  make  covenants  of  faithfulness.  Now 
be  it  known  that  a  man  cannot  go  to  the 
temple  to  receive  those  endowments  un- 
til he  has  received  the  Melchizedek 
Priesthood  and  that  makes  the  receiving 
of  the  Melchizedek  Priesthood  a  condi- 
tion of  salvation,  to  every  male  member 
of  the  Church.  We  have  had  the  privi- 
lege, many  of  us,  of  going  to  the  temple, 
having  first  received  the  Melchizedek 
Priesthood,  and  receive  certain  sealing 
ordinances  there,  entering  into  the  new 
and  everlasting  covenant  of  marriage, 
and  it  is  in  that  covenant  that  the  great- 
est blessings  that  our  Father  has  to  give 
to  us  are  given.  Those  who  have  at- 
tained those  higher  blessings,  that  is 
husband  and  wife  sealed  for  time  and 
eternity,  they  are  to  have  an  offspring, 
an  eternal  increase.  It  is  unthinkable 
that  that  condition  could  be  obtained 
outside  of  the  marriage  relations  that  the 
Lord  hath  ordained.  Priesthood  is  nec- 
essary in  order  to  receive  those  bless- 
ings. We  ought  then,  brethren,  to  ap- 
preciate this  Priesthood  which  God  has 
permitted  us  to  hold  and  keep  all  the 
covenants  we  have  entered  into  with  the 
Lord,  and  be  prepared  for  that  which 
we  hope  to  receive  when  we  have  fin- 
ished this  brief  period  upon  this  earth. 
May  God  help  us  to  this  end,  I  pray,  in 
the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.    Amen. 

703 


JoJbsLCatkd.  THE  SONS  OF  GOD 


By  JOSEPH  FIELDING  SMITH 

Of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 


Delivered   at    the    Saturday    Morning 
Session  of  the  l\3th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,  1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle. 


First,  I  wish  to  endorse  all  that  has 
taken  place  and  all  that  we  have 
heard  this  morning. 
We  have  here  assembled  in  this  im- 
portant historic  building  the  leading 
men  who  hold  the  Priesthood  who  have 
been  called  to  great  responsibility. 
Never  before  in  the  history  of  the 
Church  has  the  responsibility  which 
has  been  given  to  the  Priesthood  been 
more  necessary  of  fulfilment  than  to- 
day. Never  before  have  we  been  un- 
der greater  obligation  to  serve  the  Lord 
and  keep  His  commandments,  and 
magnify  the  callings  which  have  been 
assigned  to  us. 

The  world  today  is  torn  asunder. 
Evil  is  rampant  upon  the  face  of  the 
earth.  The  members  of  the  Church 
need  to  be  humble  and  prayerful  and 
diligent.  We  who  have  been  called  to 
these  positions  in  the  Priesthood  have 
that  responsibility  upon  our  shoulders 
to  teach  and  direct  the  members  of  the 
Church  in  righteousness.  I  would  like 
to  read  the  words  of  John  as  found  in 
the  third  chapter  of  the  First  Epistle 
of  John: 


JOSEPH  FIELDING  SMITH 


Behold  what  manner  of  love  the  Father 
hath  bestowed  upon  us  that  we  should  be 
called  the  sons  of  God.  Therefore,  the 
world  knoweth  us  not,  because  it  knoweth 
Him  not.  Beloved,  now  are  we  the  sons  of 
God,  but  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we 
shall  be,  but  we  know  that  when  He  shall 


appear  we  shall  be  like  Him,  for  we  shall 
see  Him  as  He  is,  and  every  man  that  hath 
this  hope  in  Him  purifieth  himself  even  as 
He  is  pure. 

John  was  speaking  to  the  men  who 
held  the  Priesthood.  He  calls  them  the 
sons  of  God.  We  are  the  sons  of  God. 
That  same  divine  authority  has  been 
bestowed  upon  us.  We,  too,  in  this 
day  should  be  just  as  grateful  and  just 
as  willing  to  serve  and  keep  the  com- 
mandments of  the  Lord  and  magnify 
the  callings  which  have  been  given  unto 
us  as  were  these  men  in  former  days 
who  were  the  sons  of  God.  I  wonder 
if  we  realize  the  greatness  of  our  call- 
ings— yes,  all  the  elders  in  this  Church 
— do  they  realize  that  they  hold  the 
Melchizedek  Priesthood?  Do  they 
know  that  through  their  faithfulness 
and  their  obedience,  according  to  the 
revelations  of  the  Lord,  they  are  en- 
titled to  receive  all  that  the  Father  has 
— to  become  the  sons  of  God,  joint 
heirs  with  our  Elder  Brother,  Jesus 
Christ,  entitled  to  the  exaltations  in  the 
celestial  kingdom?  Do  we  realize  that? 
We,  too,  if  we  do  realize  it,  should  be 
like  those  of  former  days,  and  every 
man  that  hath  this  hope  in  him,  will 
purify  himself  even  as  Christ  is  pure. 
Brethren,  that  we  may  do  so,  I  pray  in 
the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 
Amen. 


JobsAnack,  ^JwjUl.  and.  Ohaan,    BROADCAST 


During  the  period  from  10:30  to 
11:00  a.m.,  the  regular  weekly 
nationwide  broadcast  of  choral 
and  organ  music  and  brief  spoken  com- 
ment was  presented  as  part  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  proceedings.  This  pro- 
gram, which  completed  its  thirteenth 
year  of  continuous  nationwide  broad- 
casting in  July  of  this  year,  was  pres- 
ented by  the  Tabernacle  choir  and  or- 
gan, and  broadcast  through  the  courtesy 
and  facilities  of  the  Columbia  Broad- 
casting System's  coast-to-coast  net- 
work, throughout  the  United  States. 
The  broadcast,  written  and  announced 
by  Elder  Richard  L.  Evans,  originated 
with  radio  station  KSL,  Salt  Lake  City, 
and  was  presented  as  follows : 

TABERNACLE  CHOIR  AND  ORGAN 
BROADCAST 

10:30-11:00  a.m.  MWT 
Sunday,  October  4,  1942 

Choir  hummed  "Gently  Raise  the  Sacred 
Strain"  for  announcer's  background: 

704 


Richard  L.  Evans:  We  pause  once  more 
from  the  hurried  ways  of  life  to  beckon  your 
thoughts  again  unto  the  hills.  As  we  wel- 
come you  within  the  peace  and  quiet  of  these 
walls,  Columbia  presents  again  the  music 
of  the  Tabernacle  choir  and  organ  from 
Temple  Square  in  Salt  Lake  City.  This  is 
the  690th  performance  of  this  traditional 
broadcast  from  the  Crossroads  of  the  West, 
now  in  its  fourteenth  consecutive  year  of 
nationwide  presentation. 

The  choir  is  conducted  by  J.  Spencer 
Cornwall.  Dr.  Frank  W.  Asper  is  at  the 
organ. 

We  begin  with  one  of  the  cherished 
hymns  of  the  inland  West — a  hymn  that 
has  called  men  and  women  to  renewed  pur- 
pose these  many  decades  past:  "Come, 
come,  ye  saints,  no  toil  nor  labor  fear." 

(Choir  sang  "Come,  Come,  Ye  Saints" — 
Clayton) 

Evans:  As  we  continue  from  Temple 
Square  we  give  place  to  the  solo  voice  of 
the  organ,  which  recalls  from  out  of  its 
seventeenth  century  setting  a  "Trumpet 
Tune  and  Air"  by  Henry  Purcell. 


(Organ  presented  "Trumpet  Tune  and 
Air*'— Purcell) 

Evans:  Voices  are  raised  now  in  quiet 
supplication  to  the  Father  of  all  men  as 
Richard  Condie  and  the  Tabernacle  choir 
sing  the  hymn  by  Roger  Quilter:  "Lead  us, 
Heavenly  Father,  lead  us,  o'er  the  world's 
tempestuous  sea;  Guide  us,  guard  us,  keep 
us,  for  we  have  no  help  but  Thee." 

(Choir  presented  "Lead  Us  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther" by  Quilter) 

(Without  announcement  organ  modulated 
into  "Deep  River,"  arranged  by  Asper) 

Evans:  These  words  from  David  of  Is- 
rael are  recalled  in  a  text  from  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Psalm:  "Who  shall  ascend  into  the 
hill  of  the  Lord?  or  who  shall  stand  in  his 
holy  place?  He  that  hath  clean  hands,  and 
a  pure  heart;  who  hath  not  lifted  up  his  soul 
unto  vanity,  nor  sworn  deceitfully."  (Psalm 
24:3-4)  The  musical  setting  is  by  J.  A. 
Parks  and  is  sung  by  Jessie  Evans  Smith 
and  the  Tabernacle  choir. 

(Choir  sang  "The  King  of  Glory" — 
Parks) 

(Continued  on  page  711) 


IN  HOLY  PLACES 


By  STEPHEN  L  RICHARDS 

Of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 

Delivered  at  the  Saturday  Morning  Session  of  the  1 13th  Semi-annual 
General  Conference,  October  3,  1942,  in  the  Tabernacle. 


IN  June  I  had  the  privilege  of  visiting 
some  of  the  shrines  of  the  Church, 
places  made  sacred  by  memorable 
events  in  the  history  of  the  restored 
gospel.  I  am  happy  to  report  that 
wherever  these  places  are  owned  or 
controlled  by  the  Church  they  are 
maintained  in  good  condition,  creditable 
to  the  great  cause  and  momentous 
things  they  commemorate.  So  signifi- 
cant to  Latter-day  Saints  is  every 
shrine  that  a  discourse  might  be  built 
around  each  one.  That,  of  course,  is 
infeasible,  I  must  be  content  merely  to 
give  you  a  little  of  my  reflection  and 
feeling  as  I  came  into  the  atmosphere 
of  these  historic  places. 

Many  of  them  are  in  western  New 
York,  centering  around  the  city  of 
Palmyra.  The  Prophet's  boyhood 
home,  the  Sacred  Grove,  the  Hill  Cum- 
orah,  scenes  associated  with  the  trans- 
lation and  publication  of  the  Book  of 
Mormon,  the  Peter  Whitmer  home 
where  the  Church  was  organized,  and 
the  site  of  the  first  baptisms — all  are 
within  short  drives  of  Palmyra.  Not 
far  distant  on  the  banks  of  the  Susque- 
hanna River  is  the  area  in  which  the 
Priesthood  was  restored. 

In  this  historic  section  perhaps  noth- 
ing is  quite  so  conspicuous  and  im- 
pressive as  the  Hill  Cumorah.  Capped 
by  the  beautiful  monument  which  the 
Church  has  erected,  it  is  the  outstand- 
ing landmark  of  the  countryside.  A 
well-designed  cottage-bureau  of  in- 
formation at  the  base  of  the  Hill  with 
beautifully  landscaped  grounds,  a  com- 
modious parking  space  for  cars,  and 
the  illumination  of  the  monument  at 
night  which  gives  to  it  and  to  the  statue 
of  the  Angel  Moroni  which  crowns  it 
the  appearance  and  atmosphere  of  an 
ethereal  apparition  projected  high  and 
impressively  into  the  night  sky,  all  com- 
bine to  make  this  spot  a  mecca  for 
tourists.  When,  as  has  been  the  year- 
ly custom,  the  missionaries  stage  a 
sacred  pageant  on  the  crest  of  the  Hill, 
representing  figures  and  events  of  the 
past,  culminating  in  the  coming  forth 
of  the  new  witness  for  Christ,  and 
when  the  trumpeters  in  the  stillness  of 
the  night,  stationed  at  the  base  of  the 
imposing  monument,  sound  their  clarion 
call  heralding  the  advent  of  the  new 
dispensation  of  the  fulness  of  times, 
thousands  of  spectators,  gathered 
from  far  and  near,  coming  mostly  out 
of  curiosity,  are  hushed  in  speechless 
and  awful  reverence  for  the  sacred  and 
mighty  thing  the  representation  por- 
trays. 


Tn  the  Sacred  Grove  there  comes  to 
A  one  of  faith,  a  solemnity  and  feeling 
that  are  indescribable.  It  is  believed 
that  many  of  the  large  stately  trees 
that  gave  shade  and  seclusion  to  the 
humble  boy  a  hundred  and  twenty 
years  ago  still  live.  Standing  beside 
these  ancient  silent  witnesses  who 
know  the  truth  it  is  not  difficult  to  se- 
cure confirmation  and  added  support 
for  testimony  and  conviction.  That 
something  which  we  call  the  soul  of 
man  responds  to  such  an  environment. 
His  inner  feelings  are  stirred,  the  spark 
of  divinity  within  him  is  kindled  anew, 
and  each  one  of  the  seventy  persons 
gathered  together  in  a  five-and-a-half- 
hour  missionary  meeting  in  this  ex- 
quisitely beautiful  Grove  knew,  as  per- 
haps he  had  never  known  before,  that 
the  experience  of  Joseph  within  these 
woods  was  actual,  that  he  did  behold 
the  Father  and  the  Son,  that  he  heard 
Them  speak  and  that  his  incompar- 
able mission  in  life  was  divinely  given 
to  him. 

Each  historic  scene  brought  similar 
feelings  and  confirmation.  There  was 
rejoicing  in  our  hearts  as  we  contem- 
plated the  great  labors  and  accomplish- 
ments of  the  Prophet  as  we  tried  to 
reconstruct  important  episodes  in  his 
life.  The  supernatural  translation  of 
the  Book  of  Mormon,  its  publication, 
the  attestation  of  its  divinity,  the  be- 
stowal of  the  Aaronic  and  the  Mel- 
chizedek  Priesthoods,  the  organization 
of  the  Church  with  its  unique  and  ef- 
ficient government,  the  marvelous  mis- 
sionary work  carried  forward  under  his 
direction,  reaching  out  into  most  of  the 
nations  of  the  world  when  travel  and 
communication  were  extremely  diffi- 
cult, the  unparalleled  accretion  to  the 
Church  resulting  from  the  wide  accept- 
ance of  the  restored  gospel  by  brave 
souls  the  world  over,  the  inspired  in- 
terpretation of  the  gospel  message  with 
its  new  and  beautiful  concepts  which 
for  centuries  had  escaped  a  professed- 
ly Christian  world — these  and  many 
other  comparable  meditations  filled  our 
hearts  with  inexpressible  gratitude. 

'T'hroughout  our  visit,  however, 
there  was  ever  a  strain  of  sadness. 
We  realized  that  every  accomplish- 
ment had  been  attended  with  persecu- 
tion and  with  sorrow.  This  was  parti- 
cularly emphasized  on  our  way  home  in 
Nauvoo,  Carthage,  and  Winter  Quar- 
ters. 

It  was  inspiring  to  behold  the  magni- 
ficent site  of  Nauvoo.   The  state  of  II- 


STEPHEN  L  RICHARDS 

linois  has  constructed  a  scenic  high- 
way along  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi. 
Nowhere  is  the  view  more  impressive 
than  at  the  bend  of  the  river  where 
Nauvoo  is  located.  What  a  thrill  must 
have  come  to  Joseph  and  his  friends  as 
they  saw  this  city  grow  with  its  lovely 
homes  and  business  institutions,  its  ad- 
joining farmlands,  its  churches,  schools 
and  recreational  facilities,  climaxed  by 
the  million-dollar  temple  that  symbol- 
ized perhaps  more  than  anything  else 
the  devotion,  the  sacrifice,  and  the  true 
faith  of  the  Saints.  Nauvoo  is  pretty 
much  a  ghost  city  today,  but  enough 
remains  to  help  us  visualize  what  it  was 
when  it  was  the  largest  city  in  the  state 
— a  bigger  city  than  Chicago  was.  It 
died  with  the  depredations  of  the  mob- 
ocrats  nearly  a  century  ago  and  has 
never  revived. 

Carthage  is  only  a  few  miles  distant. 
It  was  here  that  our  feelings  were  most 
deeply  touched.  The  jail  which  for 
many  years  was  used  as  a  residence 
has  been  restored  by  the  Church  as 
nearly  as  may  be  to  its  original  condi- 
tion. It  is  now  surrounded  by  lawn, 
shrubs,  and  flowers,  and  a  cottage  for 
the  keeper  has  been  erected  nearby. 
Many  visitors  come  to  this  place.  They 
are  taken  up  the  narrow  stairway  to 
the  upper  floor  where  the  mob  ascended 
on  that  fateful  June  27,  1844,  to  reach 
the  object  of  their  malice.  Visitors  are 
taken  into  the  room  in  which  the 
Prophet  and  his  friends  were  incar- 
cerated. They  are  shown  the  faint 
trace  of  the  martyred  Hyrum's  blood 
on  the  oak  floor  and  the  window 
through  which  the  Prophet  was  shot 
and  fell  as  he  gave  himself  to  seal  his 
testimony  for  the  cause  he  loved  more 
than  his  life. 

It  is  but  natural,  being  in  this  build- 
ing and  recalling  the  tragedy  enacted 
there,  that  I  should  think  of  my  grand- 
father. I  thought  of  his  devotion  to 
the  Prophet,  his  offer  to  give  his  very 
life  for  him,  how  he  declined  to  part 
from  him  even  at  the  risk  of  great  per- 
(Concluded  on  page  740) 

705 


RICHARD  R.  LYMAN 


IN  the  public  press  appeared  a  state- 
ment recently  from  an  official  of  our 
Navy  that  we  are  losing  this  war 
and  that  we  do  not  know  it. 

If  I  express,  therefore,  some  rather 
intense  feelings  at  this  trying  and  ter- 
rible time  of  unprecedented  war  and 
bloodshed,  I  hope  I  may  be  forgiven. 
If  I  say  some  things  that  seem  to  be 
critical,  I  hope  you  who  listen  will  be 
good  enough  to  look  upon  my  asser- 
tions with  charity  and  regard  them 
merely  as  suggestions. 

A  good  many  vears  ago  my  beloved 
friend,  the  late  Henry  van  Dyke,  put 
into  my  hands  one  of  his  poems  en- 
titled "Righteous  Wrath." 

This  poem  reads : 

There  are  many  kinds  of  hatred,  as  many 
kinds  of  fire; 

And  some  are  fierce  and  fatal  with  murder- 
ous desire; 

And  some  are  mean  and  craven,  ie  vengeful, 
sullen,  slow, 

They  hurt  the  man  that  holds  them  more 
than  they  hurt  his  foe. 

And  yet  there  is  a  hatred  that  purifies  the 

heart: 
The  anger  of  the  better  against  the  baser 

part, 
Against  the  false,   the  wicked,  against  the 

tyrant's  sword, 
Against  the  enemies  of  love,  and  all  that 

hate  the  Lord. 

O  cleansing  indignation,  O  flame  of  right- 
eous wrath, 

Give  me  a  soul  to  feel  thee  and  follow  in 
thy  path! 

Save  me  from  selfish  virtue,  arm  me  for 
fearless  fight, 

And  give  me  strength  to  carry  on,  a  soldier 
of  the  Right! 

On  a  large  poster  in  the  Strater 
Hotel  of  Durango,  Colorado,  I  read 
recently  these  words: 

"We  consider  peace  a  catastrophe 
for  human  civilization." — Mussolini 

"We  shall  soon  have  our  storm 
troopers  in  America." — Hitler 

"I  am  looking  forward  to  dictating 
peace  to  the  United  States  in  the  White 
House      in       Washington." — Admiral 
Yamamoto 
706 


LIQUOR,  IMMORALITY, 

jcuuL 

OUR  ARMED  FORCES 

By  DR.  RICHARD  R.  LYMAN 

Of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 

Delivered  at  the  Sunday  Morning  Session  of  the  \\3th  Semi-annual 
General  Conference,  October  4,  1942,  in  the  Tabernacle. 


How  Unlike  Christianity 

T-Tow  unlike  the  Christian  teaching, 
1  A  "rY\lon  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as 
thyself,"  or  the  spirit  of  the  immortal 
Lincoln  who  "with  malice  toward  none 
and  charity  for  all"  undertook  to  settle 
those  great  issues  for  which  thousands 
had  struggled  on  the  battlefield. 

And  under  each  of  those  quotations 
in  the  Strater  Hotel  is  the  statement, 
"What  do  you  say,  America?"  And 
that  is  the  question  I  ask  you  citizens 
of  the  United  States:  What  do  you 
say? 

As  an  American  citizen  I  say  these 
statements  fill  me  with  that  "righteous 
wrath"  of  which  Henry  van  Dyke 
speaks.  But  with  deliberation  let  us 
examine  some  of  the  conditions  in  our 
country  today. 

The  Matter  of  Repeal 

Touring  the  years  1932  and  1933,  the 
people  of  our  nation  voted  to  re- 
peal the  Eighteenth  Amendment  to  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  and 
to  repeal  also  all  our  prohibition  laws. 
Will  I  be  unpatriotic  if  I  say  to  you 
that  this  action  filled  me  with  "right- 
eous wrath"?  The  people  did  not  then 
nor  will  they  ever  repeal  that  law  of 
nature  which  makes  alcohol  a  poison. 
Nor  did  the  people  then  nor  will  they 
ever  repeal  that  law  of  God  which 
says,  "Strong  drinks  are  not  good  for 
man." 

In  those  days  the  strategy  of  many 
of  our  political  leaders  seemed  to  be 
that  we  could  drink  ourselves  into 
sobriety.  Ask  the  mothers  and  the 
widows  and  the  fatherless  children  of 
the  three  thousand  whose  lives  were 
lost  at  Pearl  Harbor  December  7th  if 
that  strategy  was  correct.  Many  of 
those  three  thousand,  as  I  have  been 
told  by  soldiers  who  were  there,  were 
killed  by  our  own  bombs  because  of 
the  inefficiency  of  our  own  men,  which 
inefficiency  was  due  to  the  use  of  al- 
coholic beverages.  Are  the  leaders  of 
our  nation  and  those  at  the  head  of  our 
armed  forces  today  proceeding  on  the 
theory  that  we  can  drink  ourselves  into 
victory?  Alcohol  and  war  will  not 
mix  any  more  successfully  than  do 
alcohol  and  gasoline.  Ask  the  loved 
ones  of  those  thousands  who  have  lost 
their  lives  on  our  highways  because  of 


the  use  of  liquor  what  they  think  of 
mixing  alcohol  and  gasoline. 

The  Word  of  God 

T  atter-day  Saints  believe  the  Book 
*"*  of  Mormon  to  be  the  word  of  God. 
This  sacred  record  of  recently  revealed 
truth  tells  us  that  the  Lord  Himself  has 
prepared  this  land  of  America  as  a  land 
choice  above  all  other  lands,  and  that 
inasmuch  as  the  people  on  this  land 
keep  the  commandments  of  the  Lord 
they  shall  prosper.  (I  Nephi  2:20) 
This  land,  the  divine  record  says,  has 
been  provided  for  a  righteous  people. 
(Ether  2:7)  and  whatsoever  nation 
shall  possess  it  shall  be  free  from  bond- 
age, free  from  captivity  and  free  from 
all  other  nations  under  heaven  on  con- 
dition that  the  people  will  but  serve  the 
God  of  this  land  who  is  our  Lord  and 
Savior  Jesus  Christ.   (Ether  2:12) 

These  stirring  promises  of  the  Al- 
mighty are  to  be  effective  for  the  in- 
habitants of  this  land  only  if  the  in- 
habitants are  a  righteous  people.  This 
land,  the  revealed  word  says,  has  been 
prepared  and  preserved  by  the  Lord 
Himself  (Ether  2:7)  and  that  whoso 
should  possess  it  "henceforth  and  for- 
ever" must  serve  the  true  and  living 
God  or  they  will  be  "swept  away ' 
when  they  are  "ripened  in  iniquity." 
(Ether  2:9)  Let  me  ask,  are  we  serv- 
ing the  true  and  the  living  God  or  are 
we  ripening  in  iniquity? 

Immorality  and  Our  Armed  Forces 

KTTore  of  the  men  in  our  armed  forces, 
it  has  been  said,  are  rendered  un- 
fit to  fight  because  of  venereal  diseases 
than  from  all  other  causes  put  together. 
And  it  is  said  also  that  for  seventy- 
seven  days  after  December  7  prohibi- 
tion was  in  force  at  Pearl  Harbor. 
During  the  next  thirty  days  after  pro- 
hibition was  discontinued  by  military 
order,  the  number  of  arrests  for  drunk- 
enness at  Pearl  Harbor  was  more  than 
six  times  the  average  during  the  seven- 
ty-seven days  of  prohibition. 

When  I  think  of  Pearl  Harbor  and 
the  American  lives  which  that  disaster 
cost,  I  am  filled  to  overflowing  with 
that  "righteous  wrath"  of  which  I  have 
spoken.  Let  me  say  with  J.  Frank 
Hanley,  I  bear  no  malice  toward  those 
engaged  in  the  liquor  business,  much 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


less  toward  those  young  men  who,  in 
society,  by  example  or  otherwise  have 
been  taught  to  drink,  but  I  do  hate  the 
liquor  traffic.  I  hate  it  as  virtue  hates 
vice,  as  truth  hates  error,  as  righteous- 
ness hates  sin,  as  justice  hates  wrong, 
as  liberty  hates  tyranny,  as  freedom 
hates  oppression.  I  hate  it  for  its  in- 
tolerance. I  hate  it  for  its  hypocrisy. 
I  hate  it  for  its  commercialism,  for  its 
greed  and  for  its  avarice  and  for  its 
sordid  love  of  gain  at  any  price.  I 
hate  it  for  its  domination  of  politics;  I 
hate  it  for  its  corrupting  influence  in 
civic  affairs  and  for  the  cowards  it 
makes  of  public  men.  I  hate  it  for  the 
load  it  straps  on  the  back  of  labor  and 
for  the  wounds  it  gives  to  genius.  I 
hate  it  for  the  multitudes  of  human 
wrecks  it  has  made  of  men  of  out- 
standing ability  and  promise,  for  the 
prisons  it  has  filled,  for  the  insanity 
that  it  begets  and  for  the  countless 
graves  it  has  made  in  potter's  fields.  I 
hate  it  for  the  mental  ruin  which  it  im- 
poses upon  its  victims  and  for  its  moral 
degradation.  I  hate  it  for  the  crimes 
that  it  commits,  for  the  homes  that  it 
destroys,  and  for  the  hearts  that  it 
breaks.  I  hate  it  for  the  grief  it  causes 
womanhood,  for  the  scalding  tears  of 
women,  for  their  hopes  deferred,  for 
their  strangled  aspirations,  for  the 
burden  of  want  and  care  which  liquor 
heaps  upon  them.  I  hate  it  for  its 
heartless  cruelty  to  the  aged,  the  in- 
firm, and  the  helpless.  I  hate  it  for  the 
shadow  it  throws  upon  the  lives  of 
children,  for  its  monstrous  injustice  to 
multitudes  of  the  blameless  little  ones. 
"I  hate  it,"  concludes  Frank  Hanley,  "as 
Abraham  Lincoln  hated  slavery.  .  .  . 
And  I  sometimes  seem  to  see  the  end  of 
this  unholy  traffic,  the  coming  of  the 
time  when,  if  it  does  not  wholly  cease 
to  be,  it  shall  find  no  safe  habitation 
anywhere  beneath  Old  Glory's  stainless 
stars." 

"On  Fire  for  God  and  for  Right" 

HPhe  great  "Flying  Squadron"  that 
visited  every  state  in  the  Union,  all 
of  the  states'  capitals  and  many  of  the 
other  important  cities  of  our  country 
in  the  latter  part  of  1914  and  the  be- 
ginning of  1915,  delivered  stirring  ad- 
dresses in  two  hundred  fifty-five  cities 
in  two  hundred  thirty-five  days.  These 
addresses  were  heard  by  a  million  peo- 
ple, it  is  said.  Their  slogan  was,  "We 
stand  for  the  abolition  of  the  liquor 
traffic.  On  this  issue  we  fight.  When- 
ever a  politician  or  an  executive  of- 
ficer or  a  political  party  prefers  the 
liquor  traffic  above  the  public  morals, 
such  men  must  be  set  aside  and  such 
parties  abandoned.  To  the  accom- 
plishment of  this  high  purpose,"  they 
said,  "we  dedicate  ourselves." 

This  group  of  sixteen  speakers  of 
commanding  eloquence  and  personal 
force  were  all  "on  fire  for  God  and  for 
the  right."  The  name  of  President 
Heber  J.  Grant  might  very  appropriate- 
ly be  added  to  this  list  of  distinguished 
prohibitionists,  for  he  and  these  other 
unselfish  and  effective  workers  gripped 


the  hearts  of  thousands  of  the  young 
and  of  the  old  throughout  the  country 
and  gave  to  their  hearers  a  clearer  and 
a  bigger  vision  of  true  Christian  citizen- 
ship. 

We  have  now  unsheathed  the  sword 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  and 
we  have  carried  into  this  great  world 
conflict  "the  only  flag  in  all  the  world 
that  has  never  known  defeat."  To 
complete  the  mighty  task  to  which  we 
have  set  our  hands,  to  make  the  future 
better  than  the  past,  to  create  a  better 
world  in  which  to  live,  "America  needs 
every  man  at  his  best."  Daniel  A. 
Poling  says  that  whatever  makes  for 
physical  incompetency  is  an  enemy  of 
the  state.  He  says  a  moral  incom- 
petent cannot  be  a  good  citizen,  an  in- 
dustrial incompetent  cannot  be  a  good 
citizen,  a  political  incompetent  cannot 
be  a  good  citizen,  and  he  adds  that  the 
liquor  institution  is  the  supreme  tangible 
foe  of  the  state  because  it  is  the  supreme 
positive  promoter  of  physical,  moral, 
industrial,  and  political  incompetency. 
He  says,  "Millions  of  citizens,  men  and 
women,  immediately  vital  to  the  na- 
tional and  world  program  of  this  re- 
public cannot  be  at  their  best  until  the 
liquor  institution  and  the  evils  con- 
nected with  it  are  destroyed."  Alco- 
hol was  once  regarded  as  a  food,  later 
as  a  stimulant.  All  scientists  agree  to- 
day that  alcohol  is  a  narcotic.  Its  ef- 
fects upon  the  human  system  are  the 
same  as  those  of  ether  and  chloroform. 
Alcohol,  a  poison,  is  the  greatest  phy- 
sical menace  of  the  human  race.  Who 
would  care  to  converse  even  with  his 
best  and  most  intimate  friend  if  that 
friend  were  drunk  or  even  tipsy. 

Another  Drink  of  Whiskey 

The  only  thing  that  a  drink  of  whiskey 
ever  suggests  is  another  drink  of  whiskey. 
Whiskey  never  suggested  to  a  drunkard  that 
he  buy  shoes  for  his  children  or  furniture 
for  his  house,  but  it  has  suggested  to  crea- 
tures, once  men,  that  they  take  the  shoes 
from  the  feet  of  their  babies,  the  furniture 
from  their  scantily  supplied  house  to  buy 
more  whiskey. 

Prohibition  is  patriotic  because  it  has 
proved  itself  to  be  a  true  friend  of 
labor  and  a  true  friend  of  capital.  Rome 
did  not  die  for  lack  of  college  and  pub- 
lic games,  for  the  want  of  culture  and 
refined  society,  or  because  she  had  no 
army  or  no  navy.  Rome  died  when 
she  rotted  at  the  heart.  Rome  com- 
mitted moral  and  political  suicide. 

Said  Poling: 

I  fear  no  yellow  peril,  I  fear  no  foe  that 
may  embark  from  a  foreign  shore  to  do  us 
hurt.  I  fear  only  the  foe  from  within,  this 
shackler  of  bodies,  this  impoverisher  of  in- 
dustry, this  moral  despoiler,  this  corrupter 
of  government  which  is  called  alcohol. 

And  may  we  ever  remember  the  sad 
lesson  our  country  has  learned  that 
statutory  legislation  and  constitutional 
amendments  are  helpless  in  the  hands 
of  unfriendly  and  indifferent  political 
administrations.  To  our  sorrow  we 
have  learned  that  prohibitory  law  is  not 
an  automatic  machine.  A  tool  must  be 
used.     An  ax  calls  for  a  man  to  wield 


it.    Prohibition  demands  an  administra- 
tion that  will  enforce  it. 

Prohibition  Laws  Not  Automatic 
PVuty  and  patriotism  today  demand 
*"^  that  by  legislation  or  otherwise  we 
do  something  to  protect  against  them- 
selves our  fine  and  innocent  young  men, 
especially  those  who  are  serving  as 
soldiers  of  our  country.  When  in  a 
doctor's  office  the  father  of  a  young 
man  was  informed  that  his  son  had  a 
venereal  disease,  the  father  let  loose 
his  uncontrollable  temper  and  berated 
the  boy  because  of  the  boy's  condition. 
Soon,  however,  the  tables  were  turned, 
according  to  the  doctor's  story,  so 
that  the  father  was  seated,  and  the  boy 
was  standing.  It  was  then  clearly 
evident  that  all  the  temper  in  the  family 
was  not  in  the  father. 

"Who  is  to  blame  for  my  condi- 
tion?" shouted  the  boy.  "You  are  old 
and  I  am  young.  You  knew  and  I  did 
not.  You  had  the  information  and  I 
was  in  ignorance.  You  are  the  father 
and  I  am  the  son.  Why  didn't  you 
teach  me,  why  didn't  you  warn  me,  why 
didn't  you  protect  me!  I  didn't  know 
there  was  such  a  thing  in  the  world 
as  this  disease.  You  are  the  one," 
shouted  the  boy,  "that  is  responsible 
for  my  condition."  No  nation  can  en- 
dure indefinitely  with  a  manhood  af- 
flicted with  venereal  disease  and  the 
liquor  habit.  The  great  need  of  our 
country  is  spiritual  awakening.  While 
our  motto  is,  "In  God  We  Trust,"  yet 
as  Babson  says,  World  Wars  I  and  II 
have  come  about  because  the  leading 
nations  during  the  last  fifty  years  have 
been  trying  to  get  along  without  God. 
If  this  war  is  to  be  fought  to  a  finish 
it  will  end  only  when  we  repent  of  our 
sins,  readjust  our  wasteful  standards 
of  living,  and  once  more  make  God  the 
Eternal  Father  the  ruler  of  our  homes, 
our  schools,  our  businesses,  and  our 
nation. 

Have  We  Forgotten  God? 
Touring  our  Civil  War,  Abraham  Lin- 

coin  said  the  great  difficulty  with 
our  country  and  our  people  was,  "We 
had  forgotten  God."  In  a  modern  re- 
velation to  you  and  to  me  and  to  the 
people  of  this  generation  the  Lord, 
speaking  through  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith,  has  said,  "Behold,  the  world  is 
ripening  in  iniquity;  and  it  must  needs 
be  that  the  children  of  men  are  stirred 
up  unto  repentance."  (D.  &  C.  18:6) 
Let  us  therefore  as  a  nation  return  to 
church,  let  us  partake  worthily  of  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  let  us 
come  into  closest  possible  communion 
and  cooperation  with  God,  the  Eternal 
Father,  and  pray  that  freedom  and  lib- 
erty, that  gift  of  God  by  us  so  highly 
prized,  may  come  to  all  the  people  of  all 
nations  of  the  earth.  And  I  pray  humbly 
that  we  in  this  land,  choice  above  all 
other  lands,  may  be  a  righteous  people 
who  deserve  the  blessings  the  Almignty 
has  promised  to  those  who  love  Him 
and  serve  Him  and  keep  His  command- 
ments, and  I  do  this  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ.    Amen. 

707 


LEADERSHIP 

By  DR.  JOHN  A.  WIDTSOE 

Of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 


Delivered  at  the  Sunday  Morning  Session  of  the  113th  Semi-annual 
General  Conference,  October  4,  1942,  in  the  Tabernacle. 


D 


ear  Brethren  and  Fellow  Work- 


ers: 


During  the  time  allotted  me  I 
should  like  to  call  to  mind  some  funda- 
mentals of  leadership. 

Nearly  every  member  of  the  Church, 
at  one  time  or  another,  is  called  to  some 
official  Church  position;  but  here  are 
assembled  the  present  Priesthood  lead- 
ership of  the  Church.  In  our  hands, 
with  the  willing  cooperation  of  the 
membership  the  Latter-day  Saints,  lies, 
in  large  measure,  the  future  of  the 
Church.  We  may  retard  or  accelerate 
its  progress.  The  Lord  has  given  us  a 
great  trust. 

The  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  in  these 
latter  days  has  had  great  leaders. 
From  Joseph  Smith  to  Heber  J.  Grant 
they  have  been  mighty  men.  In  their 
day  they  may  have  suffered  persecu- 
tion and  derision;  but  with  the  process 
of  the  years  they  have  come  to  stand 
as  gigantic  figures,  worthy  of  the  ac- 
claim of  all  who  love  righteousness. 
They  are  fruits  of  the  spirit  of  the  gos- 
pel of  Jesus  Christ.  To  follow  the  ex- 
amples of  these  great  leaders  is  to  make 
our  own  leadership  more  worthy  and 
powerful. 

Joseph  Smith,  under  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  head  of  this  dispensation  of  the 
gospel.  To  him  we  bore  tender  and 
touching  tribute  yesterday.  He  was 
indeed  a  leader  worthy  of  our  emula- 
tion. His  leadership  began  with  a  con- 
suming love  of  truth.  Indeed  no  man 
can  be  a  safe  leader  who  does  not  love 
truth  above  all  else.  The  words  truth 
and  light  appear  and  reappear  as  the 
foundations  of  his  teachings.  He  would 
not  walk  in  darkness.  He  knew  that 
the  light  of  truth  would  banish  the  night 
of  error.  Truth  was  his  measuring 
rod,  therefore  he  would  not  and  could 
not  support  any  cause,  political,  social, 
or  commercial,  which  did  not  square 
with  truth.  There  is  never  a  possible 
compromise  with  untruth.  Truth  must 
ever  be  obeyed,  or  leadership  leads 
downward.  What  a  different  world  we 
should  have  today  if  the  leaders  of 
nations  had  made  truth  their  first  love 
and  had  surrendered  to  it.  The  Prophet 
declared  his  passion  for  truth,  and  the 
power  of  truth,  in  a  glorious  answer  to 
a  correspondent: 

I  combat  the  errors  of  ages;  I  meet  the 
violence  of  mobs;  I  cope  with  illegal  pro- 
ceedings from  executive  authority;  I  cut 
the  Gordian  knot  of  powers;  and  I  solve  the 
mathematical  problems  of  the  universities 
with  truth — diamond  truth.  (D.  H.  C.  6:78) 

708 


JOHN  A.  WIDTSOE 


Love  of  truth  by  all  members  of  the 
Church,  from  1830  to  1942,  has  made 
the  Church  mighty;  and  love  of  truth 
and  obedience  to  it  will  enable  us  to  es- 
tablish on  earth  the  kingdom  of  God. 
By  truth  we  shall  achieve  the  world's 
leadership. 

'T'he  history  of  Joseph  Smith  reveals 
A  further  a  man  who  did  not  pretend 
to  know  everything.  He  was  not 
opinionated.  He  was  not  sufficient  unto 
himself.  He  knew  the  limitations  of 
man  who  is  born  to  die.  That  is  an- 
other mark  of  his  leadership.  In  his 
eager  boyhood,  when  he  longed  for  the 
truth  of  religion  he  went  to  the  Lord 
for  help.  As  he  grew  in  age  and  power, 
he  continued  to  seek  help  from  the  Cre- 
ator of  earth  and  man.  He  was  pray- 
erful. In  the  record  of  his  life  we 
read  again  and  again,  "I  enquired  of 
the  Lord."  There  was  in  his  life  a  con- 
stant outreaching  for  divine  help.  He 
knew  the  source  of  truth,  and  sought 
refreshment  at  the  fountain  head.  Per- 
sonal opinions  and  even  the  apparently 
needed  help  of  living  men  were  set 
aside  when  the  Lord  spoke.  James 
Arlington  Bennett,  recently  baptized 
into  the  Church,  but  without  the  spirit 
of  the  gospel,  desired  to  help  the 
Prophet  out  of  the  difficulties  of  the 
day.     He  offered  to  be  the  Prophet's 


"right  hand  man."  Like  a  flash  from 
the  sky  came  the  Prophet's  thunder- 
ous reply:  "God  is  my  right  hand  man." 
We  can  not  attain  leadership  unless 
we  seek  help  from  the  Lord,  unless  we 
cultivate  the  spirit  of  prayer.  Again, 
let  me  ask,  would  the  world  be  in  its 
present  state  of  bloody  confusion,  if  its 
leaders  had  sought  counsel  from  the 
Lord? 

The  truth  that  Joseph  Smith  promul- 
gated, the  instructions  he  received 
from  heaven,  were  applied  in  the  spirit 
of  love  for  humanity.  That  was  a 
further  mark  of  his  leadership.  He 
recognized  that  all  are  children  of  the 
Eternal  Father,  and  to  that  extent  di- 
vine. He  was  ready  to  afford  all  men 
equal  rights  on  the  way  to  salvation. 
He  did  not  lift  himself  above  his 
brethren.  He  had  seen  the  Lord  and 
had  conversed  with  Him;  he  was  a 
prophet;  he  was  the  president  of  the 
Church — nevertheless  he  was  but  as 
one  with  his  brethren — a  member  of 
the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter- 
day  Saints,  striving  and  struggling  for 
salvation.  In  him  destroying  pride  was 
swallowed  up  in  life-giving  humility. 
Arrogance  was  absent  from  his  private 
or  official  actions.  Such  forgetfulness 
of  self,  such  love  of  his  fellow  men 
made  him  a  powerful  leader.  If  we 
who  battle  for  the  cause  for  which  he 
gave  his  life  desire  to  become  success- 
ful leaders,  we  must  love  our  brethren 
and  sisters,  be  courteous  and  gentle 
with  them,  must  be  one  with  them.  The 
Prophet  records  in  his  diary  that  he 
told  some  new  arrivals  in  Nauvoo: 

I  was  but  a  man,  and  they  must  not  ex- 
pect me  to  be  perfect;  if  they  expected  per- 
fection from  me,  I  should  expect  it  from 
them;  but  if  they  would  bear  with  my  in- 
firmities and  the  infirmities  of  the  brethren, 
I  would  likewise  bear  with  their  infirmities. 
(D.  H.  C.  5:181) 

Such  an  attitude  creates  leadership. 
The  resulting  love  quiets  "the  restless 
pulse  of  care"  in  our  human  relation- 
ships. 

Joseph  the  Prophet  met  the  final  test 
of  the  leader,  that  of  fidelity.  He  was 
true  to  the  cause  which  he  represented. 
He  gave  of  himself  for  it.  Almost 
every  day  of  the  fourteen  years  he 
presided  over  the  Church  was  one  of 
toil,  often  of  pain  and  sorrow.  But, 
he  continued  to  be  diligent,  dependable, 
ever  considerate  of  the  welfare  of  the 
people.  In  the  needs  of  the  Church  he 
forgot  himself.  Opposition  to  the 
Church  was  usually  visited  upon  his 
head.  Fifty  times  he  was  charged  with 
offenses,  falsely  as  the  record  shows, 
for  he  was  never  found  guilty.  He 
spent  months  in  a  foul  jail.  He  was 
driven  from  place  to  place  and  robbed 
of  his  material  possessions.  His  name 
became  known  for  "good  and  evil"  the 
world  over.  But  he  did  not  falter.  He 
built  cities  and  temples;  he  fought  the 
battles  of  the  Church;  he  surrendered 
his  own  comforts  for  the  benefit  of  the 
people;  he  taught  them  everlasting 
truth.  When  at  long  last  the  enemy 
threatened  to  take  vengeance  upon  his 
people,  if  he  would  not  yield  himself 
to  men  of  the  law  who  were  untrue  to 


the  law,  and  because  some  of  his  own 
people  were  seized  by  fear,  he  said, 
"If  my  life  is  of  no  value  to  my  friends 
it  is  of  none  to  myself."  And  when 
he  accepted  arrest  he  said  to  the  com- 
pany who  were  with  him: 

I  am  going  like  a  lamb  to  the  slaughter, 
but  I  am  calm  as  a  summer's  morning.  I 
have  a  conscience  void  of  offense  toward 
God  and  toward  all  men. 

The  words  of  a  worthy  leader! 

He  suffered  a  martyr's  death.  He 
was  true  even  unto  death. 

The  Lord  does  not  require  that  we 
give  our  lives  in  this  manner  for  the 
cause  of  truth.  Yet,  every  man  to  be 
true  to  his  calling  in  this  Church  must 
possess  the  spirit  of  devotion  and  sac- 
rifice, of  diligence  and  dependability, 
of  love  of  man  and  God,  which  en- 
abled the  Prophet  to  seal  his  testimony 
with  his  blood.  Humanity  in  its  pres- 
ent utter  travail  and  sorrow  is  calling 
for  leaders,  who,  rising  above  human 
diplomacy  and  self-interest,  are  true  to 
the  cause  of  truth,  at  any  cost. 

T  eaders  who  follow  the  example  of 
"^  Joseph  Smith  receive  great  rewards. 
They  find  daily  joy  in  life.  The  visions 
of  heaven  are  theirs.  And  they  win 
disciples.  Others,  witnessing  their 
lives,  seek  to  follow  them.  Brigham 
Young  bore  incessant  testimony  to  the 
joy  of  being  a  disciple  of  Joseph  Smith; 
and  his  dying  words  were,  "Joseph, 
Joseph!"  John  Taylor,  with  Hyrum 
Smith  and  Willard  Richards,  dared 
death  in  Carthage  Jail  to  be  with  their 
leader  and  brother.  The  lives  of  Wil- 
ford  Woodruff,  Lorenzo  Snow,  Joseph 
F.  Smith,  and  Heber  J.  Grant,  judged 
by  the  marks  of  leadership,  conform  to 
the  Prophet's  life.  Love  of  truth,  of 
God,  and  of  their  fellow  men,  and  an 
unquestioned,  unselfish  devotion  to  the 
latter-day  work  of  the  Lord  have  char- 
acterized the  actions  of  these  men.  To 
follow  the  examples  of  these  men  is  to 
achieve  leadership. 

In  our  respective  callings,  in  stake  or 
ward  or  in  the  Priesthood  quorum,  the 
signs  of  leadership  which  have  marked 
the  great  leaders  of  the  whole  Church, 
will  mark  us  as  successful  leaders. 
Leadership  is  in  essence  the  same  wher- 
ever applied. 

That  which  makes  a  Church  official 
a  leader  may  be  used  by  any  and  every 
member  of  the  Church  in  winning  joy 
in  life.  It  is  equally  important  for  the 
whole  membership  of  the  Church,  if 
we  are  to  be  as  a  light  upon  a  hill  for 
the  guidance  of  the  nations,  to  love 
truth,  to  go  to  the  Lord  for  help,  to  re- 
cognize the  divine  kinship  of  all  men, 
and  to  be  obedient  and  dependable, 
true  citizens  of  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

We  have  a  great  destiny.  We  are 
commissioned  to  bring  peace  and  hap- 
piness to  the  earth,  to  lead  the  world 
from  error  to  truth,  from  darkness  into 
light.  In  that  sense  we  have  been  called 
to  be  world  leaders.  For  that  calling 
let  us  prepare;  let  us  build  the  Church 
with  courage  and  faith  toward  perfec- 
tion, until  the  time  when  the  reign  of 
righteousness  shall  be  ushered  in,  I 
pray  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.  Amen. 


\\ 


PRESIDENT  GRANT  AND  MEMBERS  OF  HIS  FAMILY  AND  MISSIONARY  GROUP   IN  JAPAN. 

STRANGE  LANGUAGE 


// 


A  recent  article  reproduced  in  the 
October  issue  of  Reader's  Di- 
gest invites  attention  to  the  diffi- 
culties of  finding  those  who  are  quali- 
fied to  decipher  and  decode  Japanese 
documents.  Fewer  than  one  hundred 
such  persons,  says  the  article,  are  known 
to  be  available  in  this  country.  This 
comment  reminds  us  of  President 
Grant's  experiences  with  the  Japanese 
language. 

In  going  over  her  father's  earlier  rec- 
ords, Rachel  Grant  Taylor  recently 
came  upon  a  much-used  and  much-worn 
paper-covered  notebook  that  dates  back 
to  President  Grant's  sojourn  in  Japan. 
In  it  are  a  hundred  or  more  pages,  giv- 
ing evidence  of  the  painstaking  care 
with  which  President  Grant,  past  forty- 


By  RICHARD  L  EVANS 

five,  undertook  the  difficult  and  dis- 
couraging study  of  Japanese  with  that 
persistent  determination  which  has 
marked  all  the  activities  of  his  life. 

Page  after  page  is  inscribed  with 
words  and  phrases  pertinent  to  the 
Church  and  to  the  commonplace  things 
of  the  passing  day,  opposite  the  Jap- 
anese equivalents,  sometimes  written  in 
symbols  of  our  alphabet  and  sometimes 
also  in  the  Japanese  characters.  For 
an  unforgettable  lesson  in  the  will-to-do 
one  needs  only  to  visualize  this  man 
of  energy,  in  middle  age,  faithfully 
settling  down  to  a  task  so  trying,  and 
pursuing  it  so  earnestly. 


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PRIESTHOOD  ACTIVITY 


By  DR.  JOSEPH  F.  MERRILL 

Of  the  Council  o/  the  Twelve 

Delivered  at  the  Saturday  Afternoon  Session  of  the  \\3th  Semi-annual 
General  Conference,  October  3,  1942,  in  the  Tabernacle. 


JOSEPH  F.  MERRILL 


Brethren,  this  is  a  remarkable  gath- 
ering, the  first  that  I  have  known 
about  in  the  history  of  the  Church : 
a  session  of  a  general  conference  com- 
posed entirely  of  the  leaders  of  the 
Church  in  the  stakes  and  wards  and 
Melchizedek  Priesthood  quorums  in  the 
Church.  Perhaps  a  larger  percentage 
of  these  officers  named  are  here  than 
ever  before. 

I  was  recently  asked  if,  in  my  opinion, 
the  Melchizedek  Priesthood  quorums 
were  making  progress.  That  took  me 
back  in  memory  thirty-one  to  forty 
years  ago  when,  as  a  seventy,  a  mem- 
ber of  two  different  quorums,  one  the 
Third  Quorum  of  Seventy  of  which 
Brother  George  Albert  Smith  was  also 
a  member,  when  we  felt  we  were  doing 
our  full  duty  as  seventies  if  we  met 
once  a  month  with  our  quorum  and 
there  participated  in  the  class  work 
along  lines  furnished  by  President  B. 
H.  Roberts.  Since  that  day  we  have 
gone  a  long  way.  We  have  come  to 
appreciate  that  Priesthood  means  activ- 
ity— that  a  quorum  organization  is  a 
group  of  brethren  banded  together  in 
order  to  do  things,  not  merely  to  study 
about  things.  We  stand  foremost  in 
advocating  that  faith  alone  will  not 
save.  Works  are  necessary,  and  no 
man  can  do  his  full  duty  in  any  Priest- 
hood capacity,  member  or  official,  in 
any  quorum  who  is  content  to  sit  on  his 
seat  and  listen  only.  He  must  be  on 
his  toes  doing  things. 

I  was  thrilled  and  thrilled  with  the 
message  of  the  First  Presidency  this 
morning  as  it  was  delivered  by  Presi- 
dent Clark.  There  were  some  things  in 
there  relative  to  Priesthood  that  are 
dear  to  those  that  are  trying  to  help 
Priesthood  quorums  in  their  work.  Pres- 
ident Clark  referred  to  the  family,  what 
it  should  do  if  it  had  an  absent  member 
in  the  armed  forces  of  the  country,  and 
he    referred    to    the    quorums.     Now, 

710 


brethren,  may  I  say  that  as  President 
Clark  indicated,  any  family  that  does 
not  communicate  frequently,  weekly,  he 
said,  with  its  member,  is  failing  in  its 
duty.  Any  quorum,  we  believe,  and  any 
bishop  at  the  head  of  the  priests'  quorum 
who  does  not  write  or  have  letters  writ- 
ten monthly  on  behalf  of  the  quorum 
to  the  ones  that  are  absent,  is  fail- 
ing also  in  his  duty.  Brethren,  all  we 
need  to  do  is  to  travel  about  the  coun- 
try on  the  crowded  trains,  keep  our 
eyes  and  our  ears  open,  contact  men 
in  uniform  here  and  there,  and  lis- 
ten to  the  stories  of  those  of  our 
own  boys  who  have  been  in  the  camps 
to  know  that  these  boys  are  faced  with 
situations  more  tempting,  more  trying, 
more  severe,  than  they  have  ever  before 
faced  in  their  lives;  and  would  any  quo- 
rum permit  any  man,  any  member  of 
that  quorum,  to  be  without  the  assist- 
ance that  quorum  can  give?  If  the  of- 
ficers of  any  quorum  fail  in  seeing  that 
that  is  done,  they  have  failed  in  one  of 
their  duties,  I  verily  believe. 

TUe  have  heard  this  afternoon  about 
vv  missionary  work.  May  I  say, 
brethren,  we  are  all  called  to  be  mis- 
sionaries. The  members  of  the  Church 
are  all  called  to  be  missionaries,  not 
necessarily  to  give  our  time  to  pro- 
claiming the  word,  the  message  of 
Mormonism,  which  is  defined  as  the 
restored  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  in  its 
fulness,  but  we  are  called  upon  to  be 
effective  missionaries  and  perhaps  the 
most  effective  missionaries  it  is  possible 
for  us  to  be,  by  being  true  in  our  lives 
to  the  faith  that  we  profess,  and  this  is 
not  an  easy  thing.  Perhaps  never  be- 
fore in  the  history  of  the  human  family, 
has  the  tempter  had  such  power  as  he 
has  today.  Perhaps  never  before,  cer- 
tainly not  since  I  have  known  anything 
about  history,  I  believe,  have  the  moral 
standards  of  the  people  become  so  low, 
as  judged  by  our  standards  and  our 
points  of  view,  as  they  are  today.  You 
travel  about  on  the  trains.  It  used  to  be 
that  if  one  wanted  to  smoke  he  retired 
to  certain  compartments,  certain  cars, 
certain  places  in  the  train.  Nowadays 
it  doesn't  make  any  difference  where 
you  are,  the  air  is  blue  with  smoke,  men 
and  women  alike  puffing — mothers, 
grandmothers — I  have  seen  them — 
mothers  with  small  children  puffing  to- 
bacco smoke.  It  makes  you  sick.  And 
what  else  do  they  do?  Brethren  and 
sisters,   President  Clark  spoke  of  the 


evils  of  drink.  They  are  openly,  in 
these  trains,  everywhere  drinking  their 
liquor.  Now  the  conditions  that  pre- 
vail in  the  camps,  the  cantonments,  and 
the  places  where  our  boys  in  uniform 
are  working  and  training,  are  the  con- 
ditions that  are  set  according  to  the 
standards  of  a  sinful  world,  and  our 
boys  are  there.  Will  we  try  to  help 
this  situation?  Will  we  try  to  get  those 
boys — and  there  are  hundreds  of  them 
who  have  returned  from  foreign  mis- 
sions— so  impressed  that  they  will  feel 
obligated  to  continue  their  missionary 
work  by  living  according  to  the  teach- 
ings and  standards  of  the  Church?  We 
must  do  this,  brethren.  We  must  do  it 
or  fail  in  a  duty. 

Now,  may  I  say  that  all  of  us  here 
know  absolutely,  undoubtedly  we  know 
absolutely,  that  this  is  the  work  of  the 
Lord.  If  the  work  of  the  Lord  lags,  it 
is  because  we  are  lagging  in  our  duty. 
If  the  work  of  the  Lord  fails,  it  is  be- 
cause we  fail  in  our  duty;  but  to  fail 
in  our  duty  is  to  do  something  in  the 
light  of  our  testimony  that  is  positively 
absurd,  perfectly  ridiculous,  absolutely 
foolish;  to  know  that  this  is  the  work  of 
the  Lord  and  that  the  plan  we  teach  is 
the  plan  that  will  lead  into  the  celestial 
kingdom  if  we  follow  it  unto  the  very 
end,  and  then  deliberately,  through  our 
foolishness,  through  our  weakness, 
through  our  indifference,  step  aside 
from  that  plan,  out  of  the  path,  and  thus 
endanger  our  admittance  into  the  celes- 
tial kingdom  and  therefore  endanger  our 
achieving  the  great  reward  that  we  will 
receive  if  we  are  true  and  faithful,  is  to 
do  something  that  in  the  light  of  ration- 
ality is  perfectly  absurd,  knowing  that 
the  gospel  is  true.  But,  brethren,  we 
are  in  a  world  of  temptation.  We  must 
not  get  an  idea  that  it  is  easy  to  live 
according  to  the  plan  we  teach.  To  be 
sure,  the  plan  we  teach,  if  followed,  will 
yield  more  joy,  more  satisfaction,  more 
real  pleasure  in  life  than  any  other;  but 
yet,  we  must  remember  that  it  isn't  easy 
to  live  that  plan,  because  of  our  environ- 
ment, because  of  our  temptations,  be- 
cause of  our  weaknesses. 

I  pray  God  that  He  will  help  us — 
that  He  will  strengthen  us,  will  give  us 
wisdom  and  strength  and  courage  and 
all  that  we  need  to  keep  us  active  in  His 
work,  that  we  may  realize  the  joys  that 
come  to  us  as  a  result  of  obedience  and 
faithfulness,  and  I  ask  it  all  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ.    Amen. 


Tabernacle  Choir  and 
Organ  Broadcast 

(Continued  from  page  704) 

Religion  On  Trial 

President  Evans:  We  live  in  a  day 
when  every  standard  of  value  is  being 
challenged,  and  religion  has  not  escaped 
the  challenge.  Perhaps  this  is  because 
men  have  asked  too  much  of  religion 
and  too  little  of  themselves.  Many  have 
supposed  that  a  mere  creed  or  code  of 
belief,  or  statute  of  doctrines  and  dog- 
mas, would  take  the  place  of  self-effort 
and  self-mastery.  Some  have  known 
the  law  but  have  not  lived  it.  Some 
have  not  even  bothered  to  know  the 
law,  but  have  left  such  knowledge  to 
others,  and  have  worshiped  once  re- 
moved, if  at  all.  Some  have  placed 
convenience  above  truth.  Some  have 
permitted  man-made  sophistries  to 
supplant  the  revealed  word  in  their 
thinking  and  in  their  living.  By  some 
it  has  been  supposed  that  religion  was 
a  system  whereby  men  could  have  set 
aside  the  consequences  of  their  own 
doings — another  form  of  the  false  phil- 
osophy of  getting  something  for 
nothing.  And  so,  perhaps  we  should 
determine  once  and  for  all  what  we  may 
rightly  expect  religion  to  do  for  us,  and 
then  judge  its  effectiveness  or  ineffec- 
tiveness by  that  standard.  It  should  not 
be  expected  to  give  us  ease  without  ef- 
fort, or  knowledge  without  study,  or 
truth  without  search.  We  should  not 
expect  it  to  offer  reward  without  work, 
peace  without  repentance,  blessings 
without  obedience,  or  exaltation  here- 
after without  justifying  our  existence 
here.  The  Savior  of  the  world  gave  us 
an  indication  of  what  we  should  expect 
of  religion,  when  He  spoke  of  the  "wise 
man  which  built  his  house  upon  a  rock : 
and  the  rain  descended,  and  the  floods 
came,  and  the  winds  blew,  and  beat  up- 
on that  house;  and  it  fell  not."  But  the 
house  of  the  foolish  man  was  built  upon 
the  sand,  "and  it  fell:  and  great  was  the 
fall  of  it."  (Matthew  7:24-27)  The 
implication  is  plain.  The  floods  and  the 
winds  came  alike  to  the  wise  and  the 
foolish.  But  one  stood  the  onslaught, 
and  the  other  fell  before  it.  And  that  is 
what  we  should  expect  of  religion — not 
that  it  should  spare  us  the  varied  ex- 
periences of  living,  but  that  it  should 
help  us  to  understand  them  and  sustain 
us  through  them;  help  us  to  grow  be- 
yond them,  and  prepare  us  for  yet  great- 
er things.  No  man  escapes  all  the 
vicissitudes  of  life — but  he  who  has 
isolated  himself  from  spiritual  under- 
standing, frequently  breaks  under  the 
strain,  and  is  brought  low  in  the  anguish 
of  his  own  bitterness  and  in  the  blind- 
ness of  his  own  unwillingness  to  see. 
But  this  uncertain  groping  and  sense  of 
defeat  are  they  spared  whose  lives  have 
been  shaped  by  the  principles  and  pow- 
er of  religion,  pure  and  undefiled — by 
the  everlasting  truth  of  things  both  pres- 
ent and  yet  to  come. 

(Concluded  on  page  712) 


REDEDICATION 


By  CHARLES  A.  CALLIS 

Of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 


Delivered    at    the    Saturday    Evening 
Session  of  the  1 1 3th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle. 


CHARLES  A.  CALLIS 


Throughout  the  precious  message 
we  received  from  the  First  Presi- 
dency, the  spirit  of  Isaiah  and 
Jeremiah,  like  a  golden  thread,  was  in 
evidence.  A  true  prophet  is  never 
popular,  because  he  reproves  and  de- 
nounces, with  equal  vigor  and  equal 
impartiality  and  justice,  the  iniquities  of 
the  rich  and  the  unrighteousness  of  the 
poor. 

In  this  solemn  and  troubled  hour  there 
is  an  urgent  need  for  the  people  every- 
where to  rededicate  themselves  to  God, 
home,  and  country.  The  world  is  wan- 
dering in  the  wilderness  because  it  is  not 
baptized  into  the  obedience  that  makes 
men  free.  We  have  been  walking 
proudly,  with  assumed  confidence,  as 
though  we  were  on  adamant  or  the 
foundations  of  the  world.  Really  we 
have  been  rolling  along  on  parchment 
beneath  which  glowed  a  lake  of  fire. 
Lo,  we  have  plunged  into  the  inferno, 
this  terrible  inferno  of  war. 

Joshua,  the  great  ruler  in  Israel,  re- 
dedicated  himself  in  this  way:  "Choose 
you  this  day  whom  ye  will  serve; . . .  but 
as  for  me  and  my  house,  we  will  serve 
the  Lord."  If  this  nation  would  refresh 
its  soul  with  this  reconsecration,  if  the 
world  would  awaken  and  free  itself 
from  the  fearful  enslavement  of  sin,  then 
the  peace  of  Christ  would  dawn  upon 
the  world,  and  men,  instead  of  killing 
each  other,  would  love  and  save  their 
brothers. 

As  I  regard  it,  the  home  is  the  funda- 


mental, essential  unit  of  civilized  so- 
ciety. For  the  instruction  of  our  chil- 
dren we  are  depending  too  much  on  our 
Sunday  Schools,  Primaries,  and  other 
auxiliary  associations,  yea,  and  on  the 
day  school.  We  are  willing  that  our 
children  should  receive  instructions, 
much  of  them  unknown  to  us,  while  we 
sit  placidly  by  in  our  homes,  and  feel 
that  the  teaching  of  our  children,  thrown 
onto  other  shoulders,  is  a  relief.  This 
will  end  in  disaster.  The  home  is  the 
place  where  character  is  formed  and 
where  faith  in  God  is  strengthened. 

Let  us  not  delude  ourselves;  let  us  not 
lay  the  flattering  unction  to  our  souls, 
that  if  we  complain  at  rulers  and  leaders 
our  duty  is  ended.  Before  God  every 
father  in  Israel  is  a  ruler  in  the  sense  of 
the  Lord's  definition  of  the  spirit  of  the 
Priesthood.  A  man  is  a  ruler  in  his 
house,  and  he  will  be  held  accountable 
for  the  manner  and  the  character  of  his 
rule.  If  in  justice  and  love  and  patience 
he  exercises  his  authority,  having  rev- 
erence for  the  dreams  of  youth,  there 
will  be  no  need  for  so  many  public  ex- 
hortations on  the  Word  of  Wisdom, 
for  liquor  and  other  forbidden  things 
will  not  be  found  in  the  home  of  "one 
that  ruleth  well  his  own  house."  I  be- 
lieve that  all  evils  are  of  a  family.  Im- 
morality is  a  brother  to  drunkenness. 

With  firm  assurance  we  will  magnify 
our  calling  and  rededicate  ourselves  to 
the  service  of  God.  The  General  Au- 
thorities of  the  Church,  stake  presidents, 
and  bishops  hold  dominion,  righteous 
dominion,  under  the  awful  hand  of  God, 
and  to  Him  they  are  accountable  for 
their  overseership. 

God  bless  our  country.  God  bless 
our  homes.  In  properly  conducted 
homes  the  children  are  builded  up  in 
character,  in  faith,  in  the  principles  of 
the  gospel.  A  nation  in  which  such 
training  abounds  shall  increase  in  glory 
from  day  to  day.  The  delight  of  such  a 
nation  will  be  not  in  shedding  blood, 
not  to  conquer  by  might  or  physical 
power,  but  to  conquer  the  world  in  the 
spirit  of  Christ  along  the  lines  of  justice 
and  mercy. 

And  in  the  love  of  Christ  we  will  walk 
under  His  banner  and  bring  souls  unto 
Him  whose  glorious  coming  is  nigh,  and 
he  will  reign  as  King  of  kings  and  Lord 
of  lords.  This  is  my  prayer  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ.     Amen. 

711 


MMUTABLES 


By  ALBERT  E.  BOWEN 

Of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 


Delivered    at    the    Saturday    Evening 
Session  of  the  l\3th  Semiannual  Gen- 
eral Conference,   October  3,    1942,   in 
the  Tabernacle. 


ALBERT  E.  BOWEN 


Almost  every  day  we  hear  it  said, 
or  read  it,  that  we  are  living  in  a 
changing  world.  I  don't  believe 
many  of  the  people  who  use  that  phrase 
have  any  very  clear  idea  about  what 
they  mean  by  it.  It  sounds  good, 
seeming  to  imply  a  penetrating  insight 
into  the  portent  of  the  times,  no  matter 
how  nebulous  or  muddy  the  thinking 
behind  it  may  be,  so  it  is  freely  used. 

But  I  don't  want  to  talk  about  that. 
A  companion  phrase  is  that  we  can't 
go  back — we'll  never  go  back  to  things 
as  they  were  before.  Well,  the  man 
who  finds  himself  finally  hanged  on  the 
gallows  is  the  man  who,  when  he  got 
started  off  wrong,  wouldn't  go  back. 
My  judgment  is  that  when  we  get 
started  on  the  wrong  way  the  sooner 
we  turn  back  the  better.  The  whole 
doctrine  of  repentance  assumes  a  turn- 
ing back  from  wrong  to  right. 

But  I  don't  want  to  go  into  that, 
either.  I  merely  want  to  remind  you 
that,  amid  all  the  changes  in  an  ever- 
changing  world  there  are  some  immut- 
able things  which  do  not  change.  They 
are  as  steadfast  and  unchanging  as  the 
heavens,  which  are  the  same  now  as 
when  the  first  man  looked  out  upon 
them.  They  are  the  basis  of  the  moral 
order  of  the  world  which  is  the  founda- 
tion upon  which  our  civilization  itself 
is  built.  The  task  of  today  is  to  pre- 
serve, though  all  else  change,  man's  al- 
legiance, unshaken,  to  those  eternal 
foundations. 

712 


The  Ten  Commandments,  for  in- 
stance. They  cannot  be  abrogated 
without  abrogating  the  moral  order  of 
the  world,  shaking  down  the  very  foun- 
dations upon  which  our  civilization 
rests.  They  set  forth  the  law  of  life 
and  can  never  be  outmoded  or  rendered 
obsolete  while  life  endures.  They  are  of 
just  as  much  binding  force  today  as  they 
were  on  the  day  when  they  were  spoken 
with  the  voice  of  thunder  out  of  the 


Tabernacle  Choir  and 
Organ  Broadcast 

(Concluded  from  page  711) 

(Without  announcement  organ  modulated 
into  "How  Great  the  Wisdom  and  the 
Love"  by  Mclntyre) 

Evans:  "How  Great  the  Wisdom  and 
the  Love"  was  the  hymn  just  now  spoken 
by  the  voice  of  the  Tabernacle  organ. 

And  now  we  close  from  these  valley-lands 
of  the  mountains  as  the  choir  takes  up  the 
moving  march  of  a  hymn  that  compels  the 
hearts  of  men  and  is  cherished  the  world 
over:   "Onward  Christian  Soldiers." 

(Choir  presented  "Onward  Christian  Sol- 
diers"— Sullivan) 

(Choir  sang  "Gently  Raise"  and  organ 
modulated  into  "As  the  Dew") 

Evans:  This  Sabbath  Hour  from  the 
Crossroads  of  the  West  is  ended.  Until  we 
beckon  your  thoughts  again  unto  the  hills, 
may  peace  be  with  you  this  day — and  al- 
ways. 

(Pause) 

This  has  been  the  690th  of  these  tradition- 
al broadcasts,  presented  each  week  by  the 
Columbia  network  and  its  affiliated  stations 
from  the  Mormon  Tabernacle  on  Temple 
Square. 

When  the  happenings  of  another  seven 
days  have  woven  themselves  into  the  pat- 
tern of  life,  music  and  the  spoken  word 
will  be  heard  again  from  Temple  Square  at 
this  same  hour  next  Sunday,  originating  with 
Radio  Station  KSL  in  Salt  Lake  City. 

The  singing  of  the  Tabernacle  choir  was 
conducted  by  J.  Spencer  Cornwall.  Dr. 
Frank  W.  Asper  was  at  the  organ;  the 
spoken  word  by  Richard  Evans. 

This  is  the  Columbia  Broadcasting  Sys- 
tem. 


A 


clouds  on  Sinai.  They  can  no  more 
be  violated  without  disastrous  conse- 
quences than  one  can  violate  any  law 
governing  in  the  physical  world  with- 
out being  visited  with  the  inescapable 
penalty. 

S  I  listened  to  the  powerful  message 
of  the  Presidency,  delivered  this 
morning,  I  was  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  that  idea.  From  that  mes- 
sage, if  we  were  attentive  to  it,  we 
learned  that  as  to  basic  things  there  is 
no  middle  ground.  Either  we  live  by 
them  or  we  pay  the  penalty  of  de- 
parture from  their  inexorable  com- 
mands. They  are  not  subject  to  modi- 
fication or  interpretation,  but  stand 
wholly  as  given,  to  be  accepted  in  whole 
and  lived  completely. 

It  is  the  same  with  the  basic  things 
upon  which  we  have  rested  our  faith. 
Either  a  thing  is,  or  it  is  not.  To  il- 
lustrate: This  Church  is  founded  upon 
the  proposition  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the 
Son  of  God,  that  through  His  mediation 
it  became  possible  for  us  to  attain  im- 
mortality and  eternal  life.  We  cannot 
deviate  from  that.  He  is  the  Son  of  the 
Living  God,  the  author  of  our  salva- 
tion, and  must  be  accepted  in  that  light 
solely  and  completely.  The  whole 
structure  of  our  own  Church  revolves 
about  that  basic  fact.  We  say  that  the 
God  of  heaven  came  down  in  answer 
to  the  prayer  of  a  boy  and  that  He 
brought  with  Him  a  personage  whom 
He  introduced  as  His  son,  and  He  com- 
manded that  praying  boy  to  hear  His 
Son.  And  out  of  the  teachings  which 
were  then  given,  and  followed  up  by 
subsequent  instructions,  this  Church 
was  established.  Now,  that  admits  of 
no  explanation,  of  no  modification. 
Either  those  things  happened  or  they 
did  not  happen.  There  is  no  middle 
ground;  and  if  they  did  not  happen  then 
we  have  nothing,  because  our  whole 
structure  is  foundationed  upon  that  as- 
sumed fact.  We  accept  it  as  a  fact,  and 
we  may  not  temporize  with  it,  try  to 
explain  it  away,  modify  it,  or  liberalize 
about  it.  It  stands  as  the  basic  thing 
upon  which  our  whole  faith  is  founded. 
And  our  whole  system  of  belief  exacts 
of  us  that  we  accept  those  basic  truths, 
without  modification  or  change.  As 
with  the  moral  order  of  the  world  so 
those  things  may  not  be  changed.  They 
are  as  binding  today  as  when  they  were 
first  declared  by  the  voice  of  God  out 
of  the  heavens,  and  they  will  never 
change. 

May  God  grant  that  we  may  hold 
steadfastly  to  them  and  that  we  may 
order  our  lives  so  that  we  shall  not  find 
occasions  to  depart  from  them,  I  pray 
in  the  name  of  Jesus.     Amen. 


REMAINING  STEADFAST 


By  HAROLD  B.  LEE 

Of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve 


I  desire  to  bear  my  testimony  to  you 
that  I  know  that  we  are  engaged  in 
building  up  the  Kingdom  of  God 
on  earth  and  that  the  teachings  of  the 
Church  are  in  truth  with  fulness  of  the 
gospel  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  restored 
to  the  earth  in  these  latter  days.  That 
testimony  is  strengthened  as  I  observe 
the  influence  of  the  Church  in  the  lives 
of  our  young  men  and  women  today. 

What  is  it  that,  having,  we  are  strong 
in  overcoming  temptations  and  person- 
al difficulties,  and  having  not,  we  are 
afraid,  weak,  and  an  easy  prey  to  the 
temptations  of  the  world? 

Often  during  the  past  few  weeks  I 
have  asked  myself  that  question,  dur- 
ing which  time  I  have  had  an  opportu- 
nity to  visit  many  of  our  young  Latter- 
day  Saint  boys  in  military  camps  in 
company  with  Elder  Albert  E.  Bowen 
of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve  and  Pres- 
ident Hugh  B.  Brown,  and  to  inquire 
after  many  others  whom  we  were  not 
privileged  to  see.  There  I  observed 
many  of  our  young  men  who  were 
meeting  the  problems  of  their  strange 
environment  with  great  fortitude,  and 
were  optimistic  and  hopeful.  They 
were  maintaining  the  highest  Church 
standards.  They  were  applying  them- 
selves diligently  to  the  business  of 
military  training  and  were  steadily  ad- 
vancing in  rank.  They  were  seeing  in 
this  experience  a  great  opportunity  for 
missionary  work  among  their  fellow 
soldiers.  They  were  seeking  out  other 
Latter-day  Saint  boys  to  enjoy  with 
them,  whenever  possible,  the  sweet 
communion  of  a  sacred  hour  spent  in 
sacrament  meeting  or  in  a  study  of  the 
gospel  in  a  Mutual  Improvement  or- 
ganization. During  their  leisure  hours 
when  on  leave  of  absence  from  camp, 
they  were  finding  social  relaxation  in 
wholesome  associations  and  seemed  to 
be  little  affected  by  the  tawdry  and 
cheap  entertainment  that  beckons  in  the 
vicinity  of  nearly  every  armed  camp. 

rpHE  thought  has  often  been  expressed 
that  the  discontinuance  of  sending 
of  young  men  into  the  mission  field  un- 
til after  the  war  would  result  in  great 
spiritual  loss  to  the  Church,  but  after 
seeing  the  splendid  young  men  of  the 
Church — many  of  them  returned  mis- 
sionaries— and  the  Work  they  are  do- 
ing in  armed  camps,  I  am  convinced 
that  upon  their  return  home  the  Church 
will  receive  a  great  spiritual  uplift  as 
these  young  men  bear  testimony  to  the 
guiding  hand  of  the  Lord  in  their  pre- 
servation and  of  the  good  that  they 
were  able  to  do. 

Others  there  were  who  were  melan- 
choly, and  discouraged,  who  seeming- 
ly had  yielded  to  the  deadly  fatalism  all 
too  often  found  among  soldiers.  These 
lad  adopted  a  sort  of  indifference  and 
an  "Oh,  what's  the  use"  attitude  that 


Delivered    at     the    Sunday    Morning 
Session  of  the  113th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  4,   1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle. 


finds  expression  in  the  army  song  they 
sing,  "We're  in  the  Army  Now."  These, 
it  was  observed,  are  the  ones  that  fre- 
quently yield  to  the  enticing  invitations 
that  induce  to  harmful  practices  and 
vices  and  are  encouraged  in  their  in- 
dulgences by  the  "Eat,  drink,  and  be 
merry,  for  tomorrow  we  die"  philos- 
ophy frequently  expressed  by  men  in 
the  armed  services. 

In  one  of  the  army  camps  we  visited 
on  the  west  coast,  we  had  met  with  a 
group  of  our  boys  to  consider  what 
the  Church  might  do  to  provide  ma- 
terials for  use  in  religious  services  and 
to  aid  them  in  making  proper  social 
contacts  with  organized  branches  of 
the  Church  adjacent  to  the  camp.  After 
a  prolonged  discussion  of  these  mat- 
ters, a  young  captain  in  the  group  made 
this  remark,  "To  my  mind  it's  a  ques- 
tion of  spirituality — if  a  man  lacks  that, 
then  there  is  little  gained  by  anything 
you  try  to  do  for  him;  if  he  has  spirit- 
uality, then  he  will  be  all  right  whether 
you  do  little  or  much." 

What  is  meant  by  spirituality?  The 
dictionary  defines  it  as  "the  faculty  that 
gives  a  feeling  of  confidence;  sense  of 
the  spiritual;  belief  in  divine  things;  an 
inclination  to  interpret  prospects  of 
promise  in  one's  own  favor." 

I  found  out  two  weeks  later  what 
spirituality  meant  to  that  young  army 
captain  when  I  met  him  on  the  street 
here  in  Salt  Lake  City,  and  learned  that 
during  a  short  furlough  prior  to  his 
leaving  for  overseas  duty  he  had 
brought  his  wife  and  family  with  him 
to  the  temple  where,  by  the  authority 
of  the  Holy  Priesthood,  they  were 
sealed  together  in  the  everlasting  cove- 
nant for  time  and  for  all  eternity.  He 
was  living  with  "an  eye  single  to  the 
glory  of  God"  to  lead  him  through  this 
trying  war  period. 

"D  ecently  I  had  a  visit  with  a  young 
^  man  returning  from  a  mission. 
When  I  asked  him  what  he  thought 
had  been  the  most  important  thing  he 
had  gained  from  his  mission  experience, 
he  replied,  "I  expect  shortly  to  be 
drafted  for  army  service.  I  have  gained 
a  testimony  that  if  I  live  a  clean  life  I 
will  be  entitled  to  the  companionship 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  that  will  warn  me 
of  needless  danger  and  keep  me  safe 
until  my  work  here  on  earth  is  com- 
pleted. Also  I  have  gained  a  testimony 
that  life  on  this  earth  is  but  a  prepara- 
tion for  eternity  and  that  if  I  live 
worthily,  after  this  life  I  will  have  im- 


HAROLD  B.  LEE 

portant  work  there;  so  I  have  over- 
come the  fear  of  death  and  am  better 
prepared  to  go  into  the  army  than  I 
would  have  been  without  my  mission- 
ary experience." 

In  my  heart  I  said,  "Thank  God  for 
the  seeds  of  the  teachings  of  the  gospel 
planted  in  the  hearts  of  the  youth  of 
Israel  that  build  a  faith  to  fortify  them 
in  times  of  danger,  adversity,  and  temp- 
tation." 

Sometime  in  his  youth,  and  through 
the  experiences  of  his  mission,  there 
had  been  burned  into  the  heart  of  that 
young  man  the  truth  that  if  he  was 
purified  and  cleansed  from  sin  he  could 
ask  whatsoever  he  would  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  and  it  would  be  done  (D.  &  C. 
50 :  29-30 )  and  that  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord 
would  not  always  strive  with  man;  and 
that  when  the  Spirit  ceased  to  strive 
with  man,  there  came  speedy  destruc- 
tion. (II  Nephi  26:11)  He  had  learned 
that  if  he  were  wise  and  had  received 
the  truth  and  had  taken  the  Holy  Spirit 
for  his  guide  that  he  should  not  be 
hewn  down  and  cast  into  the  fire,  but 
should  abide  the  day.  (D.  &  C.  45:57) 
The  scriptures  had  taught  him  that  his 
body  was  the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
which  was  in  him,  which  he  had  of 
God  (I  Cor.  6:19)  and  that  whatsoever 
temple  is  defiled,  God  shall  destroy  that 
temple.    (D.  &  C.  93:35) 

One  who  has  a  testimony  of  the 
purpose  of  life  sees  the  obstacles  and 
trials  of  life  as  opportunities  for  gain- 
ing the  experience  necessary  for  the 
work  of  eternity;  he  sees  death  as  one 
of  the  greatest  experiences  of  life.  One 
of  the  saddest  things  I  see  as  I  travel 
throughout  the  stakes  and  wards  of  the 
Church  is  occasionally  a  person  who 
because  of  a  little  wordly  learning  or 
wealth  has  come  to  think  he  has  out- 
grown the  Church  and  the  faith  of  his 
fathers. 

To  one  who  has  high  spirituality, 
faith  in  the  gospel  and  in  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Church  supersedes  scienti- 
(Concluded  on  page  714) 

713 


THE   IMPROVEMENT    ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


(Concluded  from  page  713) 
fie  theories  and  the  philosophies  of  men; 
Priesthood  quorum  activities  supplant 
service  clubs  and  lodges;  and  Church 
social  and  recreational  responsibilities 
come  before  fraternities  and  sororities. 

Security  that  comes  from  the  broth- 
erhood of  a  Priesthood  quorum  with  a 
Church  membership  and  the  living  of 
the  Church  standards  is  valued  above 
a  fancied  security  that  is  purchased  with 
wealth  or  political  prestige. 

The  spiritually-minded  seeks  the 
respect  of  the  high-minded  who  obey 
the  law,  who  revere  womanhood  and 
virtue  and  encourage  purity  of 
thought  and  action  rather  than  cater  to 
the  applause  of  the  tipsters  who  secret- 
ly despise  the  man  who  thinks  and  acts 
below  the  standards  he  professes. 

When  prospering  in  a  material  way, 
those  with  great  spirituality  show  ap- 
preciation to  God  to  whom  they  are 
indebted  for  all  that  they  have,  by  a 
thrifty,  frugal  husbanding  of  their  sub- 
stance and  by  extending  generosity  to 
the  unfortunate  according  to  the  laws 
of  the  Church,  rather  than  indulging  in 
a  reckless,  riotous  living  as  a  prodigal 
in  defiance  of  the  laws  of  both  God 
and  man.  In  adversity  he  does  not  de- 
spair; when  his  bank  fails  he  does  not 
commit  suicide;  he  lives  above  his 
world,  and  all  that  he  does  is  with  his 
eye  ever  fixed  upon  the  goal  of  eternity. 

If  face  to  face  with  death,  such  a  one 
will  not  fear  if  his  feet  have  been  "shod 


^sunswih)qi^ 


with  the  preparation  of  the  gospel  of 
peace,"  and  those  who  lose  their  loved 
ones  will  have  the  faith  of  Moroni,  the 
captain  of  the  army,  who  declared, 
"For  the  Lord  suffereth  the  righteous 
to  be  slain  that  his  justice  and  judgment 
may  come  upon  the  wicked;  therefore  ye 
need  not  suppose  that  the  righteous  are 
lost  because  they  are  slain;  but  behold, 
they  do  enter  into  the  rest  of  the  Lord 
their  God."  (Alma  60:13) 

Tt  is  my  conviction  that  the  present  dev- 
■*■  astating  scourge  of  war  in  which 
hundreds  of  thousands  are  being  slain, 
many  of  whom  are  no  more  responsible 
for  the  causes  of  the  war  than  are  our 
own  boys,  is  making  necessary  an  in- 
crease of  missionary  activity  in  the 
spirit  world  and  that  many  of  our  boys 
who  bear  the  Holy  Priesthood  and  are 
worthy  to  do  so  will  be  called  to  that 
missionary  service  after  they  have  de- 
parted this  life. 

The  Lord,  ever  mindful  of  the  wel- 
fare of  His  children,  has,  through  His 
prophets,  given  wise  counsel  as  to  the 
rock  upon  which  men  should  anchor 
their  lives. 

And  now,  my  sons,  remember,  remember 
that  it  is  upon  the  rock  of  our  Redeemer, 
who  is  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  that  ye  must 
build  your  foundation;  that  when  the  devil 
shall  send  forth  his  mighty  winds,  yea,  his 
shafts  in  the  whirlwind,  yea,  when  all  his 
hail  and  his  mighty  storm  shall  beat  upon 
you,  it  shall  have  no  power  over  you  to 


Why  Every  Individual  Should  Be 
Active  in  Record-Making 

By  Nellie  F.  D.  Hanny 

HPhe  question  is  often  asked  in  the 
"*■  stakes  and  wards:  "Why  should 
I  bother  to  keep  a  family  record  and  be 
interested  in  research?  We  have  a 
family  genealogist  or  my  aunt  or  cousin 
is  devoting  much  time  to  the  keeping 
of  our  family  record."  Because  of  the 
frequency  with  which  this  question  is 
asked,  I  thought  it  well  to  devote  a 
ward  class  period  to  finding  the  answer. 
The  following  outline  thoughts  are  the 
result  of  the  class  discussion  on  this 
subject: 

1.  To  help  my  children  know  their 
ancestors.  (A  responsibility  of 
every  family) 

2.  Individual  happiness  derived  from 
knowing  one's  pedigree,  family 
group  records,  and  in  meeting  and 
conversing  with  the  living  with 
whom  we  are  related. 

3.  That  our  interest  in  research  and 
temple  work  be  increased,  and  that 
we  perform  our  individual  re- 
sponsibility and  keep  the  com- 
mandments in  this  duty. 

4.  By  doing  so  we  gain  knowledge, 
even  "hidden  treasures  of  knowl- 
edge." 

714 


5.  The  more  we  know  about  our  an- 
cestors the  greater  our  desire  will 
be  to  make  sure  that  their  temple 
work  is  done. 

6.  We  place  ourselves  in  tune  with 
the  desires  of  our  ancestors. 

7.  Research  and  record  -  making 
awaken  us  spiritually  similar  to 
the  doing  of  temple  work.  (See 
Brother  George  F.  Richard's  con- 
ference talk  in  May  1942,  The 
Improvement  Era.) 

8.  No  family  genealogist  is  perfect 
nor  has  access  to  all  materials.  If 
all  members  of  the  family  under- 
stood research  and  record-making, 
they  may  at  sometime  find  some- 
thing which  will  make  the  family 
record  more  complete  and  correct. 

a.  Travel  might  lead  us  to  some- 
thing not  previously  found.  By 
knowing  our  people  and  their 
records  we  will  be  able  to  rec- 
ognize material  of  value.  We'd 
be  actively  interested. 

b.  Our  knowledge  might  help  cor- 
rect errors  in  our  present  fam- 
ily records. 

9.  We'll  be  more  fully  prepared  and 
humbled  to  receive  divine  guid- 
ance. The  hearts  of  the  children 
cannot  be  turned  to  their  fathers 
if  they  do  not  know  who  their 
fathers  are. 


drag  you  down  to  the  gulf  of  misery  and  end- 
less wo,  because  of  the  rock  upon  which  ye 
are  built,  which  is  a  sure  foundation,  a 
foundation  whereon  if  men  build  they  can- 
not fail.  (Helaman  5:12) 

And  again  in  another  place  we  are 
counseled : 

O,  remember,  my  son,  and  learn  wisdom 
in  thy  youth;  yea,  learn  in  thy  youth  to 
keep  the  commandments  of  God. 

*     *     * 

Counsel  with  the  Lord  in  all  thy  doings, 
and  he  will  direct  thee  for  good;  yea,  when 
thou  liest  down  at  night  lie  down  unto  the 
Lord,  that  he  may  watch  over  you  in  your 
sleep;  and  when  thou  risest  in  the  morning 
let  thy  heart  be  full  of  thanks  unto  God; 
and  if  ye  do  these  things,  ye  shall  be  lifted 
up  at  the  last  day.  (Alma  37:35,  37) 

The  time  is  here  when  we  would  do 
well  to  sing  again  the  song  that  com- 
forted the  pioneers  of  a  former  day: 

Think  not,  when  you  gather  to  Zion 

Your  troubles  and  trials  are  through 
That  nothing  but  comfort  and  pleasure 

Are  waiting  in  Zion  for  you. 
No,  no;  'tis  designed  as  a  furnace, 

All  substance,  all  texture  to  try, 
To  burn  all  the  wood,  hay,  and  stubble. 

The  gold  from  the  dross  purify. 

May  we  survive  the  fiery  furnace  of 
God's  judgment  and  prove  true  to  what- 
ever test  shall  be  made  of  us  and 
abide  the  day  of  the  second  coming  of 
the  Son  of  Man.  I  humbly  pray  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ.   Amen. 


10.  We'll  be  prepared  to  help  teach 
others  in  this  great  work.  This 
may  take  place  in  our  daily  activi- 
ties in  life  as  well  as  in  classroom 
teaching. 

Suggestive  Helps  for 
Family  Reunion  Programs 

By  Nellie  F.  D.  Hanny 

1.  Reports  and  instructions  on  re- 
search and  temple  work  should  be 
taken  up  at  the  beginning  of  the 
meeting  while  all  are  interested  and 
children  are  quiet. 

2.  Help  the  family  to  know  their  liv- 
ing relatives  and  their  ancestors 
better  through: 

a.  Picture  exhibits,  with  oral  re- 
ports or  written  posters. 

b.  Skits  or  pageants  arranged 
from  life  stories  of  ancestors. 

c.  Faith-promoting  stories  from 
the  lives  of  ancestors.  Pictures 
may  be  used. 

d.  Original  songs,  poems,  stories 
or  a  display  of  unusual  hand- 
work, either  of  ancestors  or  the 
living. 

e.  Honoring  a  living  member  each 
year  by  bringing  before  others 
his  achievements  in  life.  By 
knowing  the  good  deeds  of  oth- 
ers we  are  encouraged  to  try 
for  the  best. 

3.  How  about  a  family  motto  for  the 
living  which  will  serve  as  an  ideal 
toward  the  living  of  a  good  life? 


SON 
By   Helen   Mating 

Tenderly  I  see  you  with  things  in  your 
small  hand 
To  question  me  about  them.     Your  heart 

must  understand 
How  mothers  love  earth's  beauty,  and  things 

like  rock  and  bloom, 
And  other  treasures  children  bring  into  a 
room.     . 

Once  upon  a  June  day  it  was  a  fledgling 

bird; 
You  brought  it  to  the  kitchen  with  softly 

spoken  word. 
We  found  an  old  eye-dropper  and  fed  it 

milk  and  gruel; 
And  when  its  wings  were  stronger  it  left 

for  "flying  school." 

A  frozen  bee  in  heather  you  found  one  day 
in  fall. 

You  breathed  on  it  to  thaw  it.  Your  laugh- 
ter I  recall 

When  it  began  its  buzzing  and  gaily  took 
to  wing — 

And  all  the  morning  after  I  listened  to  you 
sing. 

Tenderly  I  see  you,  deep-voiced  and  large 

in  size  .  .  . 
Within,  a  small  boy  lingers  with  wonder 

in  his  eyes. 


MY  CAPTAIN 
By  Rebecca  Engels 

MY  ship  needs  a  steady  hand 
To  guide  it  through  the  wave, 
A  knowing  heart  to  understand 
The  foreign  ports  I  crave. 

You  are  the  Captain  of  my  ship 
As  it  sails  upon  life's  sea; 
You  steer  it  out  upon  each  trip, 
And  bring  it  safely  home  for  me. 

Who  else  could  bring  it  safely  through 
The  wind-tossed  billowing  sea, 
Or  keep  it  on  its  course  so  true 
With  such  integrity? 


BEFORE  HER  GAZE 
By  Alice  R.  Rich 

Before  the  first  faint  streaks  of  gray  break 
through 
The  dark,  her  busy  day  is  well  along. 
A  great  love,  born  of  willingness  to  do, 
To  give  and  serve,  wakes  in  her  soul  a  song 
That  lifts  her  far  above  the  common  tasks 
That  fill  her  hours.     Before  her  eager  gaze 
She  sees  these  babies  at  her  side  and  asks 
Fulfillment  of  her  hopes  in  future  days. 
With  skilful  care  she  guides  unsteady  feet 
And  gently  moulds  her  children's  yielding 

hearts 
To  fit  them  for  the  tasks  they  needs  must 

meet 
In  life.    Her  recompense,  the  active  parts 
They  are  prepared  to  play  in  strength  and 

pride. 
In  them  her  womanhood  is  glorified. 


A  DREAM  COME  TRUE 
By  Uua  May  Carter 

Some  of  my  dreams,  I  know,  will  ne'er 
come  true, 
But  come  what  will,  I'll  still  have  this  to 
say: 
That  I  have  sat  in  that  historic  place, 
Head  bowed,  and  heard  that  mighty  or- 
gan play: 

Soft  melody  that  tells  a  tale  of  dreams, 
Triumphant    strains    proclaiming  dreams 
fulfilled. 
Deep,  throbbing  notes  that  speak  of  won- 
drous faith 
To  work  and  strive  and  do  all  God  has 
willed. 

I  closed  my  eyes,  and  I  could  almost  see 
Those  Pioneers  who  built    that    sacred 
place, 
Whose   faith   and   toil  and  sacrifice   have 
reared 
A  monument  that  time  will  ne'er  efface. 

I  wonder  if  that  organ  tells  to  all 
The  story  of  those  faithful  Pioneers, 

Their  faith  and  trust,  the  heritage  they  left 
To  which  we  must  be  true  in  coming 
years. 


SELF-RIGHTEOUS 

By  Florence  Hartman  Townsend 

I  took  out  all  my  little  faults 
And  laundered  them  so  clean, 
And  hung  them  in  the  sun 
Where  they  could  all  be  seen. 

My  neighbor,  too,  was  laundering; 
Her  faults  hung  on  the  line. 
And  though  I  wouldn't  have  you  tell, 
Her  faults  are  worse  than  mine! 

Why  did  she  stare  so  when  she  saw 
My  faults  so  small  and  fair? 
And  give  her  faults  a  little  pat, 
With  a  sort  of  prideful  air? 


A 


THUNDER  OVER  THE  CITY 

By  Ernestine  Mercer 

ngrily  parting  the  dust,  the  rain 
Strikes  down  in  lines  of  cellophane, 


Loses  its  temper  on  flat  tin  roofs, 
Beats  them  with  thin,  metallic  hoofs. 

Towers  and  domes  that  had  shared  the  sky's 

grace 
All  at  once  flatten  in  silvery  space. 

Creation  undone,  it  is  chaos  once  more — 
The  elements  fuse  in  a  crackling  bright  roar. 

And  then,  for  all  the  asphalt  and  glass, 
One  is  suddenly  conscious  of  grass. 


HOUSEWIFE  IN  WAR  TIME 
By  Ida  Powell  Brown 

I've  done  the  old,  familiar  tasks  today. 
The  house  shines,  and  the  clothes  are  out 
to  dry; 
And  while  I  watered  violets  by  the  fence, 
I  watched  a  shining  plane  go  droning  by. 

My  son  sleeps  sweetly  in  his  little  crib, 
And  now  that  I  have  nothing  left  to  do, 

I  stand,  bemused,  beside  my  kitchen  door. 
It's  spring,  my  darling,  and  I'm  missing 
you. 

The  little  hedge  we  trimmed  last  fall  is  green. 

The  tulips  are  in  bloom,  and  look  so  gay. 
I've  raked  the  lawn  we  planted  just  last 
year. 

How  could  I  know  I'd  be  alone,  today. 

And  yet,  you  march  so  that  our  son  may 
sleep 
His  peaceful  sleep,  and  fields  may  wave 
with  grain. 
You  go,  that  we  may  have  the  fresh  new 
grass 
And  apple  trees  may  live  to  bloom  again. 

You  fight,  that  silver  planes  once  more  may 

fly 

In  peacetime,  for  the  progress  of  a  land 
That  must  be  free,  to  teach  a  crippled  world 
These  precious  words — United  now  we 
stand. 


IRONING  THE  TABLE  CLOTH 
By  Janice  Blanchard 

Quite  half  an  hour  it  takes  to  press 
My  long  white  linen  cloth, 
And  while  the  damask  pattern  grows 

Beneath  the  iron,  a  froth 
Of  half-elusive  memories 

Recall  to  me  that  night: 
I   hear  again  the  laughing  voices, 

See  the  candlelight, 
And  almost  smell  the  food  we  served 

(The  roast  turned  out  perfection.) 
Full  half  the  joys  of  dinner  come 

From  pleasant  recollection. 


WINDING  ROADS 
By  Lizzie  O.  Borgeson   White 

Winding  roads  obstruct  the  view  of 
dangers  lurking  ahead; 
They  also  gradually  unfold  the  beauties  of 
the  paths  we  tread. 

Winding    roads — secluded    nooks — sacred 

shrines  wayfarers  find; 
They  hide  from  view  detours  and  pitfalls 

travelers  leave  behind. 

Winding  roads  bring  changing  scenes  to 
wanderers  on  life's  thoroughfare: 

Dark  stretches  from  a  lack  of  hope,  while 
faith  reveals  broad  vistas  fair. 

Winding  roads  of  life  portray  deepest  joy 

and  keenest  sorrow; 
The  view  we  have  of  life  today  will  seldom 

be  the  same  tomorrow. 

715 


THE  GENERAL'S  BOOTS 


•*^«  JP^'  M 


-Lhe  brigadier-general 
was  in  an  irritable  mood  after  finding 
a  present  for  his  boy.  So  when  the 
general  sat  down  on  a  well-shaded 
bench  in  an  El  Paso  park,  he  didn't 
look  cheerful.  On  the  contrary,  he 
looked  downright  angry. 

The  tall  Mexican  lad  with  the 
shoe-shine  box  must  have  thought 
so.  He  stood,  staring  cautiously  at 
the  sulking,  handsomely-uniformed 
figure  before  he  asked: 

"Shine,  Senor  general?" 

The  general's  quick  nod  was  cold 
but  affirmative.  The  boy  opened  his 
small  box,  set  his  apparatus  neatly 
on  the  sidewalk.  Removing  the  lid 
from  a  can  of  polish,  he  generously 
coated  his  customer's  shoes,  spank- 
ing the  leather  with  a  cloth  until  it 
sparkled  in  the  extravagant  El  Paso 
sunlight. 

The  young  Mexican  was  large- 
framed  but  slender.  His  physique 
showed  the  rapid  approach  of  man- 
hood. Unmanaged  black  hair  flopped 
over  his  forehead  in  long,  tassle-like 
curls. 

As  he  shifted  his  position,  the  gen- 
716 


By  RICHARD  BALL 


eral  noticed  a  streak  of  red  on  the 
sidewalk.  Closer  observation  showed 
that  it  was  blood. 

The  lines  in  the  general's  forehead 
deepened  somewhat  in  a  statement, 
tart  as  a  communique: 

"Your  foot  is  bleeding." 

"No  matter,"  the  young  Mexican 
looked  up  with  a  belittling  sort  of 
smile.  "Just  a  leetle  cut.  It  do  that 
all  the  time.    I  no  mind." 

"But  it's  dangerous.  Don't  you 
know  that?  Where  are  your  shoes?" 

The  lad  reddened  at  the  general's 
demanding  question,  but  remained 
silent.  He  slapped  more  polish  onto 
the  shoes,  spanked  them  again  with 
the  cloth. 

The  general's  solemn,  grey  eyes 
seldom  showed  amazement,  but  they 
did  now  and  that  gave  way  to  an 
outburst  of  thoughts.  .  .  No  shoes? 
The  army  was  well-supplied.  No 
shoes?  And  this  a  land  of  plenty! 

The  boy  continued  his  polishing 
with  undiminished  zeal.  The  gen- 
eral wondered  if  he  would  ever 
finish. 

"That's  enough!"  the  general 
barked. 

He  took  in  the  streak  of  blood 
once  more  as  though  officially.  Then 
militarily  erect,  he  reached  for  his 
wallet,  removed  a  five-dollar  bill, 
handed  it  to  the  young  Mexican, 

"Gracias!"  the  boy  swallowed, 
crumpling  the  bill  which  was  soft  in 
his  moist  hand. 

Then,  lifting  his  brown  eyes,  big 
with  excitement: 

"I  have  to  go  cross  street,  get 
change!" 

The  general  shook  his  head. 

"I  want  you  to  get  a  pair  of  shoes 
with  it,"  he  said.    "A  good  pair!" 

Methodically,  he  took  out  a  linen, 
initialed  handkerchief,  wrapped  it 
about  the  boy's  left  foot. 

"A  cut  is  dangerous!"  he  frowned. 
"Don't  you  know  that?  You  might 
get  infection!  Buy  those  shoes — un- 
derstand!" 

His  voice  was  firm,  his  stare  an 
order,  as  he  rose  from  the  bench. 
The  lad  gaped  at  the  five-dollar  bill 
as  if  he  might  have  received  a  hun- 
dred peso  reward  for  the  capture  of 
a  desperado.  Excitedly,  he  nodded 
to  the  general. 

"Si,  Senor!" 

Quickly,  he  tossed  his  articles 
back  into  the  box. 


"Muchas  gracias,  Senor  general!" 
he  shouted  again.  "Muchas  gracias!! 
I  do  like  you  say!" 

Then  he  hurried  off,  grinning,  his 
awkward  frame  creating  a  shadow 
which  momentarily  blacked  out  each 
row  of  flowers.  The  general  gazed 
down  at  his  gleaming  boots,  then  at 
the  streak  of  blood. 

\Jn  his  way  towards  the 
post  office  to  mail  the  package  in 
his  hand,  he  found  the  streets 
crowded.  Everybody  looked  happy. 
The  leisure  of  siesta — the  pace  of 
commercial  life.  One  could  take  his 
choice.  The  general  stared  in  a  win- 
dow at  some  curios.  One  nick-nack 
he  particularly  liked.  He  started  to 
go  in,  then  hesitated.  The  officers 
had  a  sense  of  humor,  he  realized, 
but  not  all  of  them  had  an  artistic 
sense. 

Passing  a  small  drug  and  confec- 
tionary store  on  the  corner,  he 
glanced  briefly  at  the  counter.  The 
shoe-shine  boy  was  inside  making 
a  purchase,  his  feet  still  bare,  one 
crudely  bandaged. 

The  general  met  him  as  he  came 
out  with  a  package. 

Startled  by  the  tall,  somber  figure 
he  didn't  expect  to  see  again,  the 
young  Mexican  jumped  slightly. 
Then  a  slow  smile  revealed  large 
teeth. 

"Where  are  your  shoes?"  the  gen- 
eral frowned,  staring  at  the  flat  pack- 
age- 

"I  going  to  get  them  now,"  the 
boy  said,  nodding,  but  it  wasn't  a 
convincing  nod.  His  dark  eyes 
seemed  to  roll  backwards  as  if  they 
wanted  to  retreat  from  the  inquirer 
— retreat  not  so  much  from  attack, 
as  fear.  The  general's  lips  tight- 
ened. 

"You  have  the  money?"  he  sur- 
veyed the  young  Mexican  severely, 
a  stern  huskiness  in  his  voice. 

"Si,  Senor!" 

The  general  stared  at  the  boy's 
restless  hands  seemingly  belying  the 
assertion.  A  cold,  cynical  smile 
curled  the  rough  edges  of  his  mouth. 

"Well,  then,  let  me  see  it!" 

The  boy  reached  into'  the  pocket 
of  his  worn  corduroys,  then  with- 
drew it  hastily,  his  lips  paling  a  bit 
as  he  self-consciously  cleared  his 
throat. 

The  general's  eyes  forecast  the 
fury  that  men  of  his  brigade  knew 
preceded  a  tongue-lashing. 

"It  is  gone!"  he  nodded,  bristling. 
(Concluded  on  page  729) 


QycthsL  iBooL  dlaxJc 


THIS  DAY— AND  ALWAYS 
(Richard  L.  Evans.   Harper  &  Broth- 
ers, Publishers,  New  York  and 
London.     1942.    $1.50) 


'his  book  is  scheduled  by  the  pub- 
lishers for  release  in  early  De- 
cember. A  more  adequate  review  of 
it  will  appear  in  a  later  issue.  We 
have  seen  the  galley  proofs,  however, 
and  know  that  it  will  be  a  popular 
book  to  send  away  and  to  keep  at 
home.  It  is  the  second  volume  of 
Temple  Square  sermonettes — a  com- 
panion book  to  Unto  the  Hills  by  the 
same  author — and  contains  most  of 
those  comments  on  life  which  have 
been  heard  during  the  nationwide 
Tabernacle  choir  and  organ  broad- 
casts for  the  past  three  years.  The 
youth  of  a  troubled  generation — and 
all  who  must  meet  the  pressing  issues 
of  each  day  will  find  comfort,  advice, 
clear  thinking,  and  inspiration  in 
every  line  of  This  Day — And  Al- 
ways.— M.  C.  /. 


AND  NOW  TOMORROW 

(Rachel  Field.     Macmillan  Company, 
New  York.  1942.  350  pages.  $2.75.) 

Rachel  Field  has  endeared  herself  to 
American  readers,  both  old  and  young, 
for  she  has  maintained  a  high  standard  of 
writing  in  her  work  for  adults  and  children. 
It  is  with  genuine  regret  that  we  say  this 
is  her  last  book.  Even  before  this  book 
was  officially  published,  Miss  Field  had 
passed  away. 

It  is  entirely  fitting  that  this  should  be 
her  swan  song.  Into  this  novel  she  has 
woven  some  of  the  challenging  problems 
of  the  present-day  America:  the  question 
of  the  newer  immigrant,  the  question  of 
capital  and  labor.  But  with  all  of  her  in- 
terest in  these  situations,  Miss  Field  has 
given  her  readers  a  gripping  story,  unfolded 
through  the  life  of  the  heroine  whose  life 
was  drastically  changed  because  of  deaf- 
ness resulting  from  illness. — M.  C.  J. 


UTAH  SINGS,  II 

Volume  II  of  Utah  Sings,  state 
verse  anthology,  will  be  dedicated 
to  Harrison  R.  Merrill  and  Elsie  Tal- 
mage  Brandley,  co-editors  of  the  first 
volume.  When  it  was  published  in 
1934,  they  were  editor  and  associate 
editor,  respectively,  of  The  Improve- 
ment  Era.  Mr.  Merrill  was  also  pro- 
fessor of  journalism  at  Brigham 
Young  University. 

The  new  volume,  which  is  expected 
to  be  off  the  press  December  1,  will 
contain  370  poems  by  152  poets.  It 
will  be  bound  in  green  and  gold.  Dr. 
Carlton  Culmsee,  professor  of  journ- 
alism at  BYU  and  president  of  the 
League  of  Utah  Writers,  is  editor. 
Marba  C.  Josephson,  associate  edi- 
tor of  The  Improvement  Era,  is  one 
of  the  board  of  consultants. 

Innovations  in  Volume  II  will  be 
a  section  of  religious  verse,  with 
poems  for  several  religious  occasions, 
and  a  section  of  verse  for  children. 


YOUNG  MAN  OF  CARACAS 

(T.  R.  Ybarra.     Ives  Washburn,  Inc., 
New  York,  1941.    324  pages.    $3.00.) 

Those  who  have  known  Elmer  Davis  as 
a  staid  reviewer  of  the  news  will  be 
delightfully  surprised  at  his  introduction 
to  this  equally  delightful  autobiography. 
And  those  who  think  that  New  Englanders 
are  those  staid  people  who  think  no  world 
exists  outside  their  rocky  land  are  due  for 
a  shock,  because  at  times,  they  are  jogged 
loose — even  as  the  boulders  may  be  ex- 
tracted from  their  hills — and  when  they  are, 
great  things  are  in  store.  It  was  Mrs.  Rus- 
sell, Boston-reared,  who  introduced  the 
Massachusetts  turkey  stuffing  "in  such 
superlative  excellence  as  to  cause  her  hus- 


band to  report  that  the  German  Minister 
had  sent  a  dispatch  about  it  to  Bismarck." 
The  humor  of  Ybarra  makes  this  a  de- 
lightful introduction  to  the  Venezuelan  scene 
and  the  character  of  our  American  neigh- 
bor.—M.  C.  /. 

TOBACCO  AND  HEALTH 
(Arthur    H    Steinhaus    and    Florence    M. 
Grunderman,  Association  Press,  New  York, 
1942.     48  pages.     35  cents.) 

MEMBERS  of  the  faculty  at  George  Wil- 
liams College,  the  authors  are  trained 
in  the  fields  of  physiology  and  biological 
science.  Although  qualified  to  speak  author- 
itatively regarding  the  effects  of  tobacco  on 
health,  they  do  so  only  after  painstaking 
experiment  and  careful  analysis.  The  tabu- 
lated results  of  tobacco's  effect  is  presented 
as  it  relates  to  ulcers,  stomach  activity, 
heart  rate  and  blood  pressure,  diseases,  ath- 
letics, vision,  nerves,  maternity,  cancer,  and 
longevity. — M.  E.  S. 


"90l,  Mm.  WkuwskuA. 
Stoty-  Jutlsh,!" 

The   wandering   minstrel,   the   story   teller 
of  old,  was  welcome  at  every  fireside. 

Today  as  yesterday,  the  story  teller  is  the 
center  of  the  world. 

Enrich  and  enlarge  your  stock  of  stories 
from: 

The  Voice  of  the  Intangible  $2.00 

Pioneer  Stories 1.00 

Boy's  Life  of  Will  Rogers 2.00 

Sir  Wilfred  Grenfell  ... _ 2.50 

Grenfell,  Knight  Errant  of  the  North 2.00 

Lou  Gehrig,  Quiet  Hero ... 2.00 

Boy  Scouts  Handbook ... 50 

Patrick,  Son  of  Thunder 2.00 

Tree  Toad ... 2.00 

Send  cash  with  the  order  and  we  pay  the  postage. 
Add  2%  Sales  Tax  in  Utah 

All  prices  subject  to  change  without  notice. 

Deseret  Book  Company 

44  East  South  Temple  Street,  P.  O.  Box  958 
SALT  LAKE   CITY,  UTAH 

"The  Book  Center  of  the  Intermountain  West" 


717 


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oves 


The  October  Conference 

P\iSTiNGUiSHED  as  exclusively  a  Priest- 
*^  hood  officers'  gathering,  the  113th 
semi-annual  general  conference  of  the 
Church  convened  Saturday  and  Sun- 
day, October  3  and  4,  in  the  tabernacle 
in  Salt  Lake  City.  Temple  Square  was 
closed  to  the  public  both  days.  Cards  of 
admission  had  previously  been  issued  to 
the  following  representation  of  the 
Priesthood,  numbering  well  over  eleven 
thousand:  the  General  Authorities, 
presidencies  of  stakes,  former  presi- 
dents of  stakes,  patriarchs  of  stakes, 
high  councilmen  of  stakes,  presidencies 
of  high  priests,  elders,  and  seventies 
quorums,  bishoprics  of  wards,  mission 
presidents,  temple  presidencies,  presi- 
dencies of  independent  branches,  presi- 
dents of  dependent  branches. 

This  month  approaching  his  eighty- 
sixth  birthday,  President  Heber  J. 
Grant  attended  and  presided  at  all 
five  conference  sessions,  all  of  which 
were  conducted  by  President  David  O. 
McKay.  President  J.  Reuben  Clark, 
Jr.,  read  the  message  of  the  First  Presi- 
dency at  the  opening  meeting  ( see  page 
686).  President  Grant's  message  was 
read  by  President  David  O.  McKay 
(  see  page  685 ) ,  who  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing was  also  heard  over  Columbia's 
Church  of  the  Air  (see  page  690)  im- 
mediately following  the  traditional 
Tabernacle  Choir  broadcast,  which 
formed  part  of  the  Sunday  morning  ses- 
sion. Proceedings  of  both  the  Saturday 
and  the  Sunday  morning  meetings  were 
broadcast  over  radio  station  KSL. 

Of  interest  to  the  Church  at  large  was 
the  sustaining  at  the  opening  session  of 
Professor  Joseph  F.  Smith,  head  of  the 
speech  department  at  the  University  of 
Utah  and  lineal  descendant  of  Hyrum 
Smith,  as  patriarch  to  the  Church,  a 
position  only  temporarily  filled  since 
1932.     (See  story  page  694) 

A  fast  and  testimony  meeting  Sunday 
afternoon  concluded  a  conference 
which  will  be  long  remembered  by  those 
who  attended  and  partook  of  the  out- 
pouring of  the  spirit  on  that  occasion. 
The  sacrament  was  administered  by  the 
General  Authorities  of  the  Church  un- 
der the  immediate  direction  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  the  Twelve.  High  priests  presi- 
dents and  many  bishops  also  assisted  in 
the  passing  of  the  sacrament  to  the  en- 
tire congregation  of  men — bearers  of 
the  Priesthood— who  filled  the  Taber- 
nacle. This  meeting  began  at  12:30 
noon  Sunday,  and  concluded  at  about 
4:30  p.m.,  after  many  had  expressed 
their  feelings  and  borne  witness  of  the 
power  of  the  gospel  in  their  lives.  The 
hearing  of  these  testimonies  was  facili- 
tated by  a  skilfully  designed  multi- 
microphone  pick-up  installed  by  the 
KSL  staff  under  the  direction  of  Brother 
Melvin    Wright,    which    arrangement 

718 


made  a  microphone  available  for  every 
section  of  the  tabernacle.  Conference 
gatherings  incidentally  marked  the  sev- 
enty-fifth anniversary  of  the  completion 
of  the  tabernacle,  which  was  first  used 
for  conference  in  October,   1867. 

Design  Approved  for 
Sunday  School  Monument 

Although  the  design  has  been  ap- 
*^  proved  by  the  general  board,  the 
plaster  cast  made  by  Avard  Fair- 
banks, and  a  granite  shaft  prepared,  the 
erection  of  a  monument  commemorat- 
ing the  first  L.  D.  S.  Sunday  School 
has  been  postponed  until  after  the  war. 
The  monument  is  to  be  erected  at  First 
West  and  Third  South  Streets,  Salt 
Lake  City,  the  site  of  founder  Richard 
Ballantyne's  home,  where  the  first  Sun- 
day School  met  December  9,  1849. 

Another  Pioneer  Passes 

A  nna  H.  Lambson  Vincent,  age  102, 
"^  one  of  Utah's  oldest  residents,  died 
October  4,  in  Salt  Lake  City.  She  came 
to  Utah  by  covered  wagon  in  1862  as 
a  convert.  One  of  her  first  experiences 
in  Utah  was  preparing  food  for  the 
workers  on  the  Salt  Lake  Temple.  She 
later  moved  to  Arizona  and  operated  a 
railroad  construction  camp  boarding 
house.  She  was  active  in  the  Relief  So- 
ciety and  was  a  charter  member  of  the 
Daughters  of  Utah  Pioneers.  Burial 
took  place  at  Beaver,  Utah,  her  home 
for  about  forty  years. 

Former  Argentine  Mission 
President  Returns 

"Prederick  S.  Williams,  former  pres- 
ident  of  the  Argentine  Mission,  ac- 
companied by  Sister  Williams  and  their 
four  children,  returned  to  Salt  Lake 
City  by  air  on  September  9,  where  they 
visited  a  few  days  before  returning  to 
their  Phoenix,  Arizona,  home.  Presi- 
dent Williams  had  been  in  office  since 
July,  1938. 

President  of  the  Argentine  Mission 
is  now  James  L.  Barker. 

Salt  Lake  Theater 
Relic  Goes  to  Scrap 

/^eneral  Superintendent  of  Sunday 
^-*  Schools  George  D.  Pyper  turned 
a  five-hundred-pound  metal  lamp  post 
which  was  a  part  of  the  old  Salt  Lake 
Theatre  into  the  national  salvage  cam- 
paign on  September  18. 

Elder  Pyper,  who  for  many  years 
was  manager  of  the  famed  old  play- 
house, saved  the  lamp  post  when  the 
theatre  was  torn  down  in  1929. 

Navy  Honors  Late 
Captain  Bennion 

TThe  first  of  six  units  comprising  the 

Farragut,     Idaho,     naval    training 

station  has  been  named    Camp    Ben- 


nion in  honor  of  Captain  Mervyn  Sharp 
Bennion,  who  was  killed  in  action  at 
Pearl  Harbor,  December  7,  1941. 

Mural  Work  Progresses 
In  Idaho  Falls  Temple 

Interior  finishing  work  on  the  Idaho 
Falls  Temple  is  now  in  progress, 
with  Harris  T.  Weberg,  Salt  Lake  ar- 
tist, painting  the  murals  in  the  first  ordi- 
nance room. 

B.  Y.  U.  Marks 
Founder's  Day 

Ctudents  of  Brigham  Young  Univer- 
*"*  sity  celebrated  the  school's  sixty- 
seventh  Founder's  Day  on  October  16, 
not  with  parades  and  ceremonies,  but 
by  working  in  harvesting  crops  and  else- 
where where  the  labor  shortage  was 
acute. 

President  Grant 

Visits  Southern  California 

President  Heber  J.  Grant,  accom- 
■^  panied  by  members  of  his  family, 
left  Salt  Lake  City,  October  16,  for  a 
two-weeks'  vacation  trip  to  southern 
California,  where  he  visited  his  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Isaac  Blair  Evans. 

Monument  Dedicated 

T^aughters  of  Utah  Pioneers  dedi- 
*-^  cated  a  monument  at  the  site  of  the 
Old  English  Fort,  Forty-seventh  South, 
and  Redwood  Road,  in  Salt  Lake  City 
on  October  18. 

Dormitory  Space 
Added  at  B.  Y.  U. 

'T'he  art  gallery,  museum,  and  adja- 
cent  class  rooms  in  the  Education 
Building  at  the  Brigham  Young  Univer- 
sity have  been  converted  into  a  dormi- 
tory to  house  eighty  women  students. 

Arrangements  were  also  made  for 
dormitory  space  for  one  hundred  men 
students.  Both  dormitories  were  ready 
for  use  at  the  beginning  of  the  current 
autumn  quarter,  September  25. 

Norfolk,  Virginia, 
Church  Location 

A  t  Norfolk,  Virginia,  great  naval  cen- 
*"*  ter,  L.  D.  S.  services  are  conducted 
at  245  W.  28  Street.  Elders  Bruce  M. 
Gibson  and  Charles  J.  Wilson  of  the 
East  Central  States  Mission  call  this 
address  to  the  attention  of  the  many 
members  of  the  Church  who  have  come 
to  the  area  to  work  in  defense  indus- 
tries and  of  the  many  others  in  naval 
service  who  are  constantly  reporting 
in  Norfolk. 

President  Grant  Tells 
Beet  Sugar  History 
Tn  a  Columbia  Broadcasting   System 
program    September   26,    President 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


Heber  J.  Grant  described  his  experi- 
ences in  aiding  the  establishment  of 
the  beet  sugar  industry  in  Utah. 

In  the  interview  conducted  by  Col- 
umbia's farm  editor,  Charley  Stookey, 
President  Grant  related  that  unsuccess- 
ful attempts  to  manufacture  beet  sugar 
had  been  made  at  Philadelphia  in  1 836, 
and  again  at  Northampton,  Mass. 

The  Mormons  made  their  first  at- 
tempt in  1852,  when  President  Brig- 
ham  Young  had  President  John  Taylor 
purchase  $12,500  worth  of  machinery 
in  France,  which  was  brought  by  boat 
and  ox  team  to  Utah.  The  enterprise 
was  intended  to  be  at  Provo,  but  before 
the  machinery  was  delivered  the  com- 
pany had  gone  bankrupt,  and  the  prop- 
erty was  turned  over  to  the  Church.  A 
factory  was  built  at  what  is  now  Sugar- 
house,  where  syrup  was  made  for  sev- 
eral years,  but  the  project  failed  be- 
cause the  raw  molasses  could  not  be 
converted  to  sugar. 

In  1891,  the  first  beet  sugar  factory  to 
be  built  by  American  workmen  and 
equipped  with  American-made  ma- 
chinery was  built  at  Lehi,  Utah. 

The  program  concluded  with  a 
round-table  discussion  of  current  prob- 
lems by  leaders  of  the  sugar  beet  in- 
dustry. 

Excommunications 

TThe      following      excommunications 
have  been  reported  to  this  office 
during  the  past  month: 

Kenneth  Edward  Livingston,  born  May 
16,  1916;  excommunicated  Feb.  17,  1942,  at 
Portsmouth,  Northern  States  Mission. 

Sarah  Dean  Tussey  Livingston,  born  Jan. 
10,  1893;  excommunicated  Feb.  17,  1942,  at 
Portsmouth,  Northern  States  Mission. 

William  Livingston,  born  July  28,  1885; 
excommunicated  Feb.  17,  1942,  at  Ports- 
mouth, Northern  States  Mission. 

Ruth  Jane  Livingston  Porter,  born  Apr. 
23,  1913;  excommunicated  Feb.  17,  1942,  at 
Portsmouth,  Northern  States  Mission. 

John  Joseph  Deichmiller,  born  Nov.  7, 
1909;  excommunicated  Aug.  13,  1942,  in 
So.  111.,  Northern  States  Mission. 

Inez  Edna  Penrod  Welsh,  born  Sept.  6, 
1903;  excommunicated  May  4,  1942,  at  Cen- 
tral, Ohio,  Northern  States  Mission. 

Clair  Edwin  Patterson,  born  Aug.  1,  1913; 
excommunicated  May  4,  1942,  in  Central, 
Ohio,  Northern  States  Mission. 

Martha  Ann  Bybee  Wattis,  born  Dec.  23, 
1862;  excommunicated  Aug.  17,  1942,  at 
Riverdale  Ward,  Lakeview  Stake. 

Efraim  Amara,  born  Mar.  10,  1919;  no 
Priesthood;  excommunicated  Sept.  3,  1942, 
at  Chimal,  Mexican  Mission. 

Francisco  Sandoval,  born  Sept.  17,  1910; 
an  elder;  excommunicated  Sept.  8,  1942,  in 
LaLibertad  Br.,  Mexican  Mission. 

Brigida  Belmont,  born  Oct.  8,  1922;  ex- 
communicated Sept,  8,  1942,  in  San  Pedro, 
Mexican  Mission. 

Bishops,  Presiding 
Elders  Appointed 

Kimball  Ward,  Alberta  Stake,  Edward 
L.  Woolsey  succeeds  Gerald  Lowe. 
LeGrand  Ward,  Bonneville  Stake,  Harry 
W.  Madsen  succeeds  Herman  G.  Karpo- 
witz. 

Fayette  Ward,  Gunnison  Stake,  George 
Edwin  Mellor  succeeds  Ray  Bartholomew. 


Inglewood  Ward,  Inglewood  Stake,  John 
A.  Garrick  succeeds  Joseph  E.  Wilson. 

Malad  Second  Ward,  Malad  Stake,  Wil- 
liam W.  Thomas  succeeds  Guy  Servoss. 

Spanish-American  Branch,  Maricopa 
Stake,  George  J.  Jarvis  succeeds  Lyman  S. 
Shreeve. 

Sandy  First  Ward,  Mt.  Jordan  Stake, 
Isaac  Sorenson  succeeds  J.  Clement  Crapo. 

Ruth  Ward,  Nevada  Stake,  Owen  White- 
head succeeds  Evan  I.  Despain. 

Highland  Park  Branch,  North  Idaho  Falls 
Stake,  Abner  Wylie  Snarr  succeeds  J. 
Gwynne  Millward. 

Mount  Pleasant  North  Ward,  North  San- 
pete Stake,  Orange  M.  Aldrich  succeeds 
Jewell  M.  Petersen. 

Pegram  Branch,  Montpelier  Stake,  R. 
Earl  Sorenson  succeeds  Herman  K.  Teich- 
ert. 

Hibbard  Ward,  Rexburg  Stake,  Ervin 
Widdison  succeeds  Lehi  A.  Keppner. 

Twenty-ninth  Ward,  Riverside  Stake, 
Glen  S.  Burt  succeeds  N.  Owen  Catmull. 


Radio  Bible  Dramatizations 

"Otories  from  the  Living 
*-'  Bible,"  a  radio  program 
that  merits  the  attention  of  people 
everywhere,  began  Friday,  Octo- 
ber 16th,  from  7  to  7:30  p.m.  over 
radio  station  KSL,  Salt  Lake  City, 
and  will  be  heard  each  Friday  at 
the  same  time  for  one  year.  Fea- 
tured will  be  a  cast  of  players  who 
bring  understanding  and  sincerity 
to  their  portrayals.  The  series 
also  includes  majestic  choral  ren- 
ditions of  anthems  that  were  cen- 
turies old  when  Christ  was  born. 
In  these  stories  are  romance  and 
adventure,  drama,  tragedy,  hu- 
mor, pathos,  truth  that  is  strang- 
er and  far  more  thrilling  than  fic- 
tion. 


Santaquin  Second  Ward,  Santaquin- 
Tintic  Stake,  Thomas  E.  Chatwin  succeeds 
Melvin  Openshaw. 

Capitol  Hill  Ward,  Salt  Lake  Stake,  Ray 
G.  Wood  succeeds  Grant  Iverson. 

Smithfield  Third  Ward,  Smithfield  Stake, 
L.  Vern  Toolson  succeeds  Douglas  Hooper, 
deceased. 

Whitewater  Ward,  Southern  Arizona 
Stake,  Alva  Rich  Porter  succeeds  Loren 
Ivine  Dillman. 

Ashurst  Ward,  St.  Joseph  Stake,  Free- 
land  Moody  succeeds  Clifford  J.  Farrington. 

Tucson  Ward,  Southern  Arizona  Stake, 
A.  Gordon  Kimball  succeeds  LeRoy  B.  Py- 
per. 

Sevier  Ward,  South  Sevier  Stake,  Wil- 
liam A.  Delbert  Robinson  succeeds  James 
L.  Levi. 


MISSIONARIES  . 
Elders  John  Rowell, 
Gabriel  Mes,  and 
Frederick  Angel, 

shown  with  President 
Don  B.  Colton  (sec- 
ond from  left)  during 
a  four-day  stay  at  the 
Missionary  Home  in 
Salt  Lake  City  before 
leaving  September  IS 
for  the  field. 


Freedom  Ward,  Star  Valley  Stake,  Rey- 
nold F.  Robinson  succeeds  Henry  Luthi, 
deceased. 

Ontario  Ward,  San  Bernardino  Stake, 
Frank  E.  Finlayson  succeeds  J.  Howard 
Porter. 

Grand  Junction  Branch,  Western  States 
Mission,  Carl  G.  Davis  succeeds  T.  William 
Gardner. 

Those  Who  Have  Passed  Away 

D.  J.  Borup,  president  of  the  Boise  Stake 
high  priests'  quorum,  was  killed  by  light- 
ning in  May.  He  was  a  former  bishop  of 
the  Rupert  Ward. 

George  M.  Jorgensen,  member  of  the 
Boise  Stake  high  council,  and  Boise  Stake 
work  director,  died  in  July. 

James  T.  Hammond,  Sr.,  eighty-five,  a 
member  of  the  Utah  Constitutional  conven- 
tion, and  Utah's  first  secretary  of  state,  died 
October  9,  at  Salt  Lake  City.  He  had 
served  a  mission  in  the  Southern  States  in 
1881-82.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Utah 
State  Agricultural  College. 

English  Horn  Pipes 

Placed  in  Tabernacle  Organ 

A  seventy-three-pipe  solo  English 
^*  horn  section  has  recently  been  in- 
stalled in  the  Salt  Lake  Tabernacle 
organ  under  the  direction  of  J.  J.  Toron- 
to. It  is  believed  that  the  section  will 
be  used  a  great  deal  by  organists  for 
solo  work,  especially  on  radio  pro- 
grams. 

Reuben  D.  Law  Gets 
Board  Reappointment 

T"\r.  Reuben  D.  Law,  professor  of 
elementary  education  at  Brigham 
Young  University,  has  been  reappointed 
to  the  general  board  of  the  Deseret 
Sunday  School  Union. 

Originally  appointed  a  year  ago,  he 
was  released  to  become  a  member  of  a 
stake  presidency.  Recently  he  was  re- 
leased from  that  position  because  he 
moved  from  the  stake. 

Church  Buildings  Dedicated 

An  L  D.  S.  chapel  at  Ermita,  Feder- 
**  al  District  of  Mexico,  was  dedi- 
cated August  2,  by  Lorenzo  Anderson, 
then  president  of  the  Mexican  Mission. 

The  combination  San  Fernando 
Stake  tabernacle  and  Burbank-  Ward 
chapel  was  dedicated  September  13,  by 
Dr.  Richard  R.  Lyman  of  the  Council 
of  the  Twelve, 

The  Montrose  Branch  chapel  of  the 
Western  States  Mission  was  dedicated 
September  21,  by  Elder  Charles  A. 
Callis  of  the  Council  of  the  Twelve. 


719 


£dii&uaL 


Jivd  yiatablsL  (Inmv&MahisA, 


pouR-scORE  years  and  six!  A  long  life  crowded 

with  useful  toil  and  good  deeds!     Such  will  be 

President  Grant's  record  on  November  22,   1942. 

Sixty  years  an  apostle!  (October  16,  1882  to 
October  1 6,  1 942 ) .  The  first  man  in  this  dispensa- 
tion to  hold  the  apostleship  so  long  in  mortality. 
And  every  day  one  of  service  to  the  Church  and 
his  fellow  men! 

He  stood  as  the  unquestioned  leader  of  the  as- 
sembled Priesthood  officers  of  the  Church  (6000  or 
more  were  present )  at  the  late  General  Conference. 
He  was  improved  in  health,  clear  in  mind,  an  in- 
terpreter of  the  Lord  for  this  generation.  It  was 
good  to  be  in  his  presence. 

Latter-day  Saints  everywhere,  and  many  not  of 
the  faith,  unitedly  congratulate  President  Grant 
upon  the  anniversaries  of  his  birth  and  ordination, 
and  pray  that  his  days  upon  earth  may  be  long  ex- 
tended, and  that  he  may  find  continued  joy  in  the 
labors  of  his  high  divine  calling. 

God  bless  our  President! — /.  A.  W. 

JhsL  Pjcrf/riaAcfL  to  Uul  Qhwidc 

HThe  Latter-day  Saints  rejoiced  to  learn  that  at 
the  last  General  Conference,  the  office  of  Pat- 
riarch to  the  Church  was  filled. 

Joseph  F.  Smith,  who  was  so  sustained,  will  do 
honor  to  the  office.  He  will  use  his  fine  training, 
winning  personality,  and  abundant  faith,  in  calling 
down  the  blessings  of  heaven  upon  the  people.  In 
his  veins  runs  the  blood  of  martyrs  who  dared  to 
give  their  lives  for  truth.  He  will  remember  his 
heritage  and  stand  as  a  father  with  a  father's  bless- 
ing upon  his  lips  to  the  whole  Church.  Increasing 
power  will  come  to  him.  The  members  of  the 
Church  will  pray  for  him  at  their  firesides,  and  the 
Lord  will  sustain  him  in  his  ministry. 

The  Church  welcomes  Patriarch  Joseph  F.  Smith 
into  the  councils  of  the  Priesthood. — /.  A.  XV. 


in  J/uu/l  Ifoidk!' 


As  we  send  our  children  off  to  school,  there  to 
spend  many  of  the  hours  of  their  lives,  many 
parents  are  suspected  of  unburdening  a  sigh  of  re- 
lief. We  are  busy  people,  we  parents,  especially 
these  days,  and  with  the  great  pressure  of  life  upon 
us,  too  many  of  us  fondly  suppose  that  when  we 
turn  our  children  over  to  the  school  or  some  other 
public  agency,  our  responsibility  ceases.  Nothing 
could  be  further  from  the  truth. 

Too  many  of  us  suppose  that  it  is  quite  all  right 
to  let  the  children  grow  up  in  their  own  way- — 
that  wrong  tendencies,  resulting  from  early  neglect, 
may  easily  be  corrected  when  they  get  older — 
that,  after  all,  they're  only  children  and  there  is  no 
use  worrying  about  these  things  too  early  in  life — 
no  use  crossing  bridges  until  we  come  to  them — 
when  they  are  more  mature  in  years  we  can  more 
easily  shape  their  attitudes,  and  teach  them  to  be 
what  they  ought  to  be.  Such  is  the  false  reasoning 
that  is  altogether  too  prevalent. 

This  business  of  being  a  parent  is  not  merely 


a  biological  process.  It  is  a  life-long  siege  of  sacri- 
fice, patience,  painstaking  love,  and  sound  teaching 
both  by  precept  and  example.  The  traits  of  char- 
acter which  early  become  evident  in  a  child  are 
frighteningly  persistent,  and  if  you  want  to  make  a 
noble  and  useful  man  you  must  begin  by  making  a 
noble  and  useful  boy.  If  you  want  to  make  a  vir- 
tuous and  lovely  woman,  you  must  begin  by  making 
a  virtuous  and  lovely  girl — and  it  takes  more  than 
food  and  clothing  and  shelter,  more  than  four  walls 
and  a  roof  and  a  name,  to  do  this  thing. 

This  isn't  a  new  idea.  It  isn't  a  product  of 
modern  psychology.  It  was  a  well-established  prin- 
ciple many  centuries  ago  when  the  writer  of  Prov- 
erbs, reputed  for  much  wisdom,  expressed  the 
thought  in  these  words:  "Even  a  child  is  known 
by  his  doings,  whether  his  work  be  pure,  and 
whether  it  be  right."  ( Proverbs  20: 1 1 . )  And  help- 
ful and  indispensable  as  they  are,  it  isn't  the  schools 
that  are  going  to  make  a  righteous  and  noble  gen- 
eration. No  teacher  can  do  what  a  parent  has  failed 
to  do.  Such  work  must  begin  long  before  the 
school  enters  the  picture  and  must  continue  un- 
ceasingly within  the  walls  of  sanctified  homes,  so 
that,  in  the  words  of  David  of  Israel,  "our  sons 
may  be  as  plants  grown  up  in  their  youth;  that  our 
daughters  may  be  as  corner  stones,  polished  after 
the  similitude  of  a  palace."  (Psalm  144:12.) 

And  so,  as  we  send  our  children  once  more  to 
school,  there  must  be  no  feeling  that  they  are  now 
a  public  charge  and  that  we  are  relieved  of  re- 
sponsibility— for  such  is  not  the  case  and  never  can 
be  among  any  people  who  expect  high  character 
and  nobility  in  the  coming  generation. — R.  L.  E. 


Ga*  OnsLin.  SfuJdL 


"pOR  the  second  time  in  our  history — as  we  did  last 
May — The  Improvement  Era  is  making  avail- 
able to  its  readers  everywhere  throughout  the 
Church  all  of  the  discourses  delivered  at  the  gen- 
eral sessions  of  the  General  Conference. 

While  the  Tabernacle  and  Temple  Square  have 
been  filled  to  overflowing  many  times  in  past  years, 
numerically  no  great  part  of  the  total  membership 
of  the  Church  has  ever  been  able  to  be  in  attendance 
at  a  general  conference — even  though  it  may  have 
seemed  at  times,  by  the  sight  of  the  throngs  and  by 
the  inspiration  of  the  occasion,  that  the  whole 
Church  had  been  gathered  as  one.  Although  this 
has  never  been  a  physical  reality,  those  who  at- 
tended the  sessions  of  the  conference  just  past  were 
gathered  together  as  one  in  spirit  and  in  purpose, 
as  the  message  of  the  First  Presidency  and  the 
counsel  of  all  the  General  Authorities  steadied  the 
course  and  pointed  the  way  for  the  days  of  life 
that  we  are  now  facing. 

And  by  the  printed  word,  and  by  the  spirit  of 
the  messages  the  Priesthood  representatives  will 
carry  back  to  their  wards,  to  their  quorums,  and 
their  homes,  it  is  fervently  hoped  that  the  Church 
will  be  gathered  anew  as  one  in  its  living,  and  in  its 
acceptance  of  all  of  the  fundamentals  of  the  gospel 
of  Jesus  Christ,  and  all  of  the  counsel  that  comes 
from  time  to  time  through  an  inspired  leadership — 
for  therein  lies  the  safety  and  security  of  this  people 
in  this,  our  troubled  day. — R.  L.  E. 


(1897)    45th   ANNIVERSARY   ISSUE   OF   THE   "ERA"    (1942) 


720 


Evidences  and 
reconciliations 

tix.  What  jla,  thsL  Tyhamn^ 

"Defore  the  Church  was  organized,  the  Lord  said 
to  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith,  "There  is  no  gift 
greater  than  the  gift  of  salvation."  (D.  &  C.  6:13) 
This  was  repeated  in  several  later  revelations.  On 
another  occasion,  also  while  the  young  prophet 
was  receiving  his  preparatory  training,  the  Lord 
further  declared  that  "Eternal  life  ...  is  the 
greatest  of  all  the  gifts  of  God."  (D.  &  C.  14:7)  It 
would  appear,  therefore,  that  salvation  is  eternal 
life;  or  that  to  obtain  salvation,  one  must  win  etern- 
al life.  In  the  Bible  and  Book  of  Mormon,  also, 
eternal  life,  or  everlasting  life,  is  promised  those 
who  accept  the  Lord  and  His  son  Jesus  Christ.  Life 
and  salvation  are  forever  intertwined.  Indeed,  our 
own  Church  leaders  have  spoken  and  speak  of  the 
"gospel  of  life  and  salvation." 

This  conception  of  the  meaning  of  salvation  re- 
quires a  definition  of  life.  Man  had  a  preexistent 
state,  and  will  live  on  throughout  eternity.  He  is 
immortal.  It  becomes  necessary  therefore  to  dis- 
tinguish clearly  between  life  as  mere  existence,  and 
life  as  something  greater  that  may  issue  from  exist- 
ence, 

Brigham  Young  has  furnished  a  definition  in 
thrilling  words:  "Salvation  is  the  full  existence 
of  man,  of  the  angels,  and  the  Gods;  it  is  eternal 
life,  the  life  which  was,  which  is,  and  that  which 
is  to-  come." 

Life,  then,  is  more  than  mere  existence;  it  is  "full 
existence."  Life  is  active;  existence  is  static.  Life 
is  warm;  existence,  cold.  Life  uses  its  powers  to 
secure  progress;  it  moves  upward.  Existence  is 
today  where  it  was  yesterday,  or  lower.  Life  is 
the  increasing  realization  of  man's  highest  ideals. 
The  Lord  himself  has  made  clear  the  distinction, 
for  He  said  to  Moses,  "This  is  my  work  and  my 
glory — to  bring  to  pass  the  immortality  and  eternal 
life  of  man."  (Moses  1 :39)  And  Jesus,  the  Christ, 
made  the  same  distinction  when  He  said,  "I  am  the 
resurrection,  and  the  life."  (John  11:25)  Life  in 
contradistinction  to  existence  has  always  been  the 
objective  of  Latter-day  Saints.  Life,  implying  a 
future  of  endless  development,  is  the  ultimate  goal 
of  the  Church. 

The  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  in  his  discourses  gave 
added  meaning  to  this  definition  of  salvation.  "Sal- 
vation," he  said,  "means  a  man's  being  placed  be- 
yond the  power  of  all  his  enemies,"  ( Teachings,  p. 
301 )  and  "Salvation  is  nothing  more  or  less  than 
to  triumph  over  all  our  enemies  and  put  them  under 
our  feet.  And,  where  we  have  power  to  put  all 
enemies  under  our  feet  in  this  world,  and  a  knowl- 
edge to  triumph  over  all  spirits  in  the  world  to  come, 
then  we  are  saved,  as  in  the  case  of  Jesus,  who  was 
to  reign  until  he  had  put  all  enemies  under  His 
feet,  and  the  last  enemy  was  death."  (  Teachings, 
p.  297 )  There  is  no  thought  of  inertia,  mere  exist- 
ence,  in   such  words.      Instead,   these   statements 


imply  action,   a  battle   for  triumph  over  enemies 
without  and  within. 

The  conditions  which  enable  man  to  win  eternal 
life  are  included  in  the  plan  of  salvation.  In  fact, 
the  Plan  is  but  a  series  of  invariable,  unalterable 
laws,  obedience  to  each  of  which  increases  man's 
power  to  triumph  over  evil.  That  means  that 
there  is  knowledge  to  be  acquired  ( Teachings,  p. 
297 ) ;  principles  of  action  to  be  accepted;  ordinances 
to<  be  received  {Teachings,  pp.  12,  331 );  duties  to 
be  performed  through  life;  and  the  complete  ac- 
ceptance of  Jesus,  the  Christ  (John  17:3);  that  is, 
full  health  of  body,  mind,  and  spirit  to  be  won.  All 
this  that  man  "might  be  raised  in  immortality  unto 
eternal  life."  (D.  &  C.  29:43) 

The  man  who  uses  his  powers  in  obedience  to 
law  to  fight  all  enemies  of  progress,  whether  ignor- 
ance, temptation,  appetites,  or  personalities,  rises 
above  existence;  he  lives;  he  is  on  the  way  to  sal- 
vation. For  him  who  does  not  so  use  his  powers, 
though  he  exist,  life  does  not  function  fully;  the 
light  of  truth  is  blotted  out;  the  enemy  may  defeat 
him;  he  is  retreating  from  salvation.  Salvation 
then  is  conditioned  under  the  divine  plan  and  with 
divine  help,  upon  the  proper  exercise  of  the  will 
of  man.  Complete  salvation,  which  is  full  and 
eternal  life,  results  from  man's  full  endeavor  to 
conform  to  the  laws  of  life,  the  gospel  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  That  is  why  we  often  say  that  men 
save  themselves  with  the  aid  of  the  Lord,  ( See  D. 
6C.  29:44,  45) 

Since  men  differ  in  their  obedience  to  law  there 
must  be  stages  of  salvation.  Mankind  may  win  any 
degree  of  salvation  from  mere  inert  existence,  be- 
yond a  kingdom  of  glory,  to  the  celestial  kingdom 
or  highest  glory.  "In  my  Father's  house  are  many 
mansions  (kingdoms)."  They  who  use  only  a 
part  of  their  powers,  or  use  them  improperly,  do  not 
live  life  fully.  Only  those  who  render  obedience 
to-  all  the  duties  required  of  them,  who  are  in  pro- 
cess of  full  living,  can  expect  complete  salvation. 
( Teachings,  p.  332 )  They  become  the  sons  of 
God.     They  will  be  where  God  and  Christ  dwell. 

If  salvation  is  eternal  life  as  here  defined,  it  may 
begin  on  earth,  or  may  have  begun  in  the  preex- 
istent state  of  man.  To  the  degree  that  a  person 
uses  his  powers  for  progress  on  earth,  and  lives 
fully  under  the  law,  he  is  daily  achieving  salvation 
and  in  a  state  of  salvation.  But,  the  summation  of 
our  efforts  will  be  made  on  the  great  day  of  judg- 
ment, and  will  determine  the  degree  of  our  salva- 
tion, our  final  place  in  the  hereafter. 

This  meaning  of  salvation  is  simple,  easily  un- 
derstood. If  the  body  is  to  be  kept  healthy,  and 
fit  for  the  work  of  life,  certain  definite  laws  must 
be  obeyed.  If  the  mind  is  to  render  full  service,  it 
must  be  properly  fed  and  exercised.  If  the  spirit 
is  to  lift  man  into  joy,  spiritual  tasks  must  be  per- 
formed. Only  under  such  conditions  of  fully  func- 
tioning powers  can  full  life  be  lived.  If  salvation 
is  to  be  gained,  all  the  powers  of  life  must  be  used, 
under  the  laws  of  truth,  so  far  as  in  man's  power 
lies.  There  must  be  a  coordination  of  these  powers 
for  steady  progress.  As  we  seek  salvation,  an  ac- 
tive eternal  life,  we  must  prepare  ourselves  for  it 
by  proper  activity  on  earth. 

This  conception  of  salvation  explains  why  the 
activities  of  the  Church  on  earth  enter  into  every 

( Concluded  on  page  75 1 ) 


721 


Words  May  Form  a 
Shining  Armor 

By  Edith  Brandis 

rT1KE  Bush  family  had  just  moved  from 
their  native  Village  to  a  town  where 
Mr.  Bush  had  secured  work  in  an  air- 
plane factory.  The  three  children, 
Lucia,  Martin  and  Walter,  found  it 
rather  difficult,  at  first,  to  adjust  them- 
selves to  playmates  who  had  been 
brought  up  so  differently  from  them- 
selves. 

As  weeks  passed,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bush 
learned  that  the  children's  new  ac- 
quaintances had  many  undesirable 
habits,  that  they  used  coarse  expres- 
sions and  that  rudeness  and  discourtesy 
were  the  general  rule  with  most  of 
them. 

When  Martin  and  Walter  began  to 
acquire  some  of  these  objectionable 
manners  and  to  use  the  rude  language 
they  heard,  it  was  plain  enough  that 
the  method  of  teaching  behavior  which 
seemingly  had  worked  so  well  in  the 
home  town  was  not  satisfactory  for  the 
new  environment.  The  principles  of 
good  breeding  had  evidently  not  been 
firmly  enough  established.  They  were 
not  standing  the  test. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bush  re-established  the 
family's  early  childhood  practice  of 
constant  drill  in  common  politeness. 
Father,  Mother,  and  the  children  made 
it  an  unbreakable  rule  to  say,  "Thank 
you,"  for  all  kindnesses,  and  the  pleas- 
ure to  be  gained  from  being  kind  was 
repeatedly  stressed  through  opportuni- 
ties for  experiencing  it.  They  were 
careful  to  say,  "If  you  please,"  for  any- 
thing desired  and,  "Excuse  me,"  for 
accidents  or  accidental  offenses.  The 
parents  meant  to  try  to  build  habits 
which  would  stand  by  the  children  as 
long  as  they  lived. 

Running  concurrently  with  the  teach- 
ing and  practice  of  habitual  courtesy 
and  kindness,  they  went  on  to  accus- 
tom the  children  to  the  use  of  fitting 
words  and  phrases  with  which  to  speak 
of  different  things  that  are  good,  beau- 
tiful and  desirable.  They  taught  them, 
also,  to  look  for  beauty  in  common 
things  as  well  as  in  uncommon  things. 
They  taught  them  to  comprehend  such 
abstractions  as  "courage,"  "patience," 
"wisdom,"  "knowledge,"  "understand- 
ing." 

These  parents  realized  their  children 
also  needed  colloquial  speech  which  is 
so  commonly  used  about  ordinary  mat- 
ters. Besides  this,  they  definitely  ex- 
plained to  their  children  how  much 
some  people  love  to  tease.  They  gave 
them  words  and  phrases  to  answer 
with:  "You  can't  be  in  earnest."  "I 
don't  believe  you  would  do  that!"  Even 
slang  phrases  that  were  current:    "Aw, 

722 


fiddlesticks!"  "Oh,  yeah?"  "You'd  be 
surprised." 

How  well  this  worked,  Mrs.  Bush 
had  an  opportunity  to  learn  one  day 
when  a  much  larger  boy  came  to  play 
with  Martin.  This  boy's  mother  called 
him  to  bring  her  some  wood.  He  urged 
Martin  to  do  it  for  him — to  carry  the 
load  of  wood  in  to  his  mother  while 
he  went  on  playing  with  his  ball. 

Martin  refused;  the  other  boy  in- 
sisted. Finally,  taking  out  his  knife, 
the  boy  said,  "If  you  don't  go  right 
now,  1 11 — I'll  cut  your  ears  off." 

Martin  said,  "Go  and  take  your  own 
wood  in.  Don't  you  know  yet — you 
sap — you  can't  kid  me?" 

The  boy  looked  up,  wide-eyed,  "Of 
course  I  do,"  he  said,  and  tucking  his 
ball  into  his  pocket,  he  carried  in  the 
load  of  wood  and  brought  back  a  gift. 

"Look,  I  made  these  two  airplanes," 
he  said.    "Want  one?" 

The  boys  talked  about  airplanes  for 
the  next  ten  minutes,  and  there  was 
no  more  dissension. 

Mrs.  Bush  reported  this  episode  to 
Mr.  Bush  and  they  sought  more  ways 
of  arming  their  children  against  the 
exigencies  of  their  days. 

"In  a  changing  world,"  say  these 
wise  parents,  "it  isn't  going  to  be  pos- 
sible to  segregate  our  children  in  order 
to  keep  them  unspotted.  What  then 
shall  we  do? 

"We  must  give  them  ways  and 
means  to  apply  teachings  that  homes 
and  churches  and  schools  give  as 
theories — give  them  words  to  say,  acts 
to  do,  practical  applications  to  make. 
We  must  not  fail  them  at  any  point; 
and  to  do  this  we  must  keep  our  own 
precept  and  our  own  practice  consis- 
tent, high  and  worthy. 

"If  our  teaching  doesn't  go  deep 
enough  to  stand  the  test  of  an  alien  en- 
vironment, we  should  be  glad  to  find 
it  out  and  start  over  again.  We  need 
to  make  our  teaching  definite,  posi- 
tive, rich  and  inclusive.  In  this  way, 
we  may  help  our  children  forge  a  shin- 
ing and   unbreakable   armor  that  will 

stand  by  them  as  long  as  they  live." 
■  ♦  ■ 

YOUNG  DUCKS  IN  A  GARDEN 
By  Lucretia  Penny 

Grown  ducks,  I  suppose,  of  a  roastable 
age 

Tremble  a  trifle  when  passing  the  sage, 

And  maybe  at  dusk,  before  dreams  overtake 
them 

Are  briefly  uneasy  lest  luck  should  forsake 
them; 

And  powers-that-be  absolutely  decree 

Slugs  are  old  fashioned  and  snails  must  be 
rationed. 

But  a  young  duck  hasn't  the  time  to  spare. 

It's  come  day,  go  day  and  never  a  care. 

He's  living  the  life — the  dashing  swash- 
buckling 

Riley-like  life — of  a  gardener's  small  duck- 
ling. 

He's  sifting  the  slugs  and  flavorous  bugs 

Right  under  the  sage.     He  is  being  his  age. 


Challenge  to  Women 

HP  here  are  two  crying  evils  which 
■*■  women  should  help  rectify,  and  with 
which  women  are  particularly  con- 
cerned. One  is  the  existence  of  places 
where  liquors  are  sold  near  army  camps; 
the  other  is  the  unnecessary  use  of  to- 
bacco and  liquor  in  what  might  other- 
wise be  good  moving  pictures. 

Concerning  the  first,  there  is  already 
a  bill  drawn  up  and  ready  for  action  in 
Congress  relative  to  the  sale  of  alcoholic 
liquors  near  military  camps.  This  bill 
is  known  as  S860.  Every  mother  of 
sons  feels  that  these  temptations  should 
not  be  flung  directly  into  the  faces  of  the 
young  men  who  are  entering  the  army. 
With  the  induction  of  eighteen  and 
nineteen  year  old  youths,  this  tempta- 
tion will  be  of  increasing  potency. 
Right  now,  while  the  matter  is  fresh  in 
your  mind,  pick  up  a  pen  and  paper 
and  write  to  the  congressmen  of  your 
state,  asking  them  to  insist  that  this  bill 
be  voted  upon  to  assure  the  closing  of 
those  liquor  establishments  now  in  op- 
eration near  army  camps,  as  well  as  the 
prevention  of  new  ones  opening. 

Some  such  letter  might  be  sent: 

Dear  Senator (write  in  his  name)  : 

We  should  feel  very  grateful  if  you 
would  use  your  influence  to  see  that  the 
Senate  bill,  S860,  is  called  to  a  vote,  and 
that  your  vote  is  in  favor  of  its  being 
passed  to  protect  our  young  men  in  the 
army. 

Sincerely  yours, 

( your  signature ) 

Such  a  letter  will  take  only  a  few 
minutes  to  write  and  if  sufficient  num- 
bers write  them,  this  will  initiate  a  great 
cleaning-up  of  our  army  cantonments. 

The  second  question  relative  to  the 
unnecessary  use  of  tobacco  and  liquor 
in  movies  should  be  directed  to  Mr. 
Will  Hayes,  President,  Motion  Picture 
Producers  and  Distributors  of  America, 
28  West  44th  Street,  New  York.  If  in 
this  letter  you  can  mention  any  specific 
film  that  you  have  seen  which  offends, 
the  letter  will  gain  force. 

Some  such  letter  might  be  sent; 

Dear  Mr.  Hayes: 

While  I  enjoy  the  motion  pictures  be- 
cause they  are  a  fine  form  of  recreation,  I 
do  object  to  the  insertion  of  drinking 
scenes  when  there  is  no  apparent  object 
other  than  to  cater  to  a  prevalent  custom. 

In (insert  the  title  of  the  picture) 

I  felt  that  the  picture  would  have  been  even 
better  if  the  unnecessary  drinking  and 
smoking  had  been  eliminated. 

I  hope  that  you  will  insist  that  our  pic- 
tures be  entirely  wholesome. 

Sincerely  yours, 

(sign  name ) 

Women  of  the  Church,  we  have  a 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


real  challenge.  After  we  have  written 
these  letters  let  us  get  the  men  ot  our 
households  and  some  of  our  neighbors 
to  sign  these  letters  or  write  letters  of 
their  own,  and  send  them  posthaste  to 
their  destinations. — M.  C.  J. 

jtooWtoniier 

■Qj 

By  Josephine  B.  Nichols 

RECIPES  FOR  THE  SCHOOL  LUNCH 

The  following  suggestions  are  a  simple 
guide  to  help  make  school  lunches  more 
tempting  and  nutritious.  Sandwiches  form 
the  basis  of  box  lunches. 

Bread 

A  variety  of  breads  should  be  used  for 
sandwiches  including  whole  wheat,  graham, 
rye,  cracked  wheat,  fruit,  nut,  raisin,  date, 
and  nut,  as  well  as  enriched  white  bread. 

Spread  both  sides  of  bread  with  softened 
butter. 

Raisiri'Nut  Bread 

2  cups  buttermilk  or  sour  milk 
1  teaspoon  soda 

1  cup  brown  sugar 

1  tablespoon  molasses 

3  cups  whole  wheat  flour 
1  cup  white  flour 

1  teaspoon  baking  powder 
Yl  teaspoon  salt 

Yz  package  raisins 

2  cups  walnuts 

Add  soda  to  buttermilk,  mix  liquids  to- 
gether, add  to  mixed  dry  ingredients,  then 
add  walnuts  and  raisins. 

Bake  in  a  moderately  hot  oven,  (350°  F.) 
for  60  minutes.    Makes  two  loaves. 

Fillings  for  Sandwiches 

Fillings  are  most  appetizing  that  have 
been  made  into  a  paste.  Cover  entire  sur- 
face of  one  slice  of  bread  with  one-half  inch 
of  filling.  Cut  sandwich  in  half  and  wrap 
each  separately  in  waxed  paper. 

Cold  meat:  Any  cold  meat  or  fish, 
ground  or  flaked,  seasoned  with  a  little  chili 
sauce,  ketchup,  mayonnaise,  chopped  pickle, 
olives,  parsley,  or  green  pepper.  Meat  loaf 
may  also  be  sliced  and  used. 

Baked  beans:     Mashed  and  seasoned. 

Eggs:  Hard-cooked,  minced  and  seasoned 
with  mayonnaise  or  ketchup,  or  minced  with 
chopped  ham  or  crisp  bacon,  chopped 
pickles,  or  relish. 

Peanut  butter:  Plain  or  with  honey,  jelly, 
jam,  or  marmalade,  or  with  chopped  dried 
fruit,  as  dates,  raisins,  figs,  or  apricots. 

Cheese:  Grate  cheese,  moisten  with 
cream,  ketchup,  chopped  pickle,  tomato 
juice,  or  salad  dressing  to  make  a  creamy 
spread. 

Grated  cheese  with  chopped  nuts  or  olives. 

Veal  Loaf 
1   pound  ground  veal 
34  pound  ground  pork 
j/3  cup  cracker  crumbs 
\y2  teaspoon  salt 

1  egg 

Y  cup  evaporated  milk 

2  teaspoons  lemon  juice 
34  teaspoon  celery  salt 

Mix  all  ingredients  and  pack  into  oiled 
loaf  pan.    Bake  at  325°  for  one  hour. 

Raw  Vegetables 
Raw  vegetables  add  crispness,  vitamins, 
(Concluded  on  page  724) 


A  penny  postcard  may  save  you  up 
to  $10  on  food  this  month 


Bordefti 


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IRRADI. 


"'"""•—■ -• 


■         ■::: 


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THE  FOLDER  every  woman  needs! 
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And  what  recipes!  Savory  main  dish- 
es, rich  soups  and  sauces,  luscious  des- 
serts ...  all  made  the  thrifty  way  with 
Borden's  Evaporated  Milk! 


"Borden's  is  the  smooth,  creamy 
evaporated  milk  that  lends  flavor  and 
goodness  to  any  dish.  Western-made, 
with  Vitamin  D  added.  Try  it  today!" 

►  Send   your  penny   postcard   to: 

Borden's,  50  N.  Main  St.,  Salt  Lake 
City.  TODAY! 


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IRRADIATED  WITH  VITAMIN  D 

1 


Bread  is  Basic! 

— and  it  tastes  good,  too 

Good  bread  is  a  basic  part  of  a  good  diet.  Everyone  needs 
it — and  everyone  likes  Royal  Enriched  Bread  for  its  delicious 
natural-  flavor.     Its  added  vitamins  and  iron  supply  extra 

food  value. 


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723 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


ih 


and  minerals  to  a  lunch  of  sandwiches.  Cel- 
ery, whole  tomatoes,  carrot  strips,  cauli- 
flower, turnips,  green  peppers,  and  lettuce 
are  all  good.  They  should  be  washed  and 
wrapped  in  waxed  paper  while  they  are  still 
moist,  which  will  help  to  keep  them  fresh 
and  crisp. 

Fruits 

Any  fresh  fruit  in  season  makes  a  good 
dessert.  Dried  fruits  uncooked  also  may  be 
used.  Cooked  dried  fruits  and  canned  fruits 
may  be  carried  in  a  waxed  paper  container 
with  a  tight-fitting  lid,  or  in  a  jelly  or  may- 
onnaise jar. 

Other  Desserts 

Puddings,  rice,  tapioca,  and  bread  or 
baked  custards  can  also  be  carried  in  cov- 
ered containers. 

Gingerbread 
Y  cup  shortening 
Y^  cup  granulated  sugar 

1  egg 

\y2  cups  sifted  flour 

1   cup  whole  wheat  flour 
teaspoons  soda 

1   teaspoon  cinnamon 

1  teaspoon  ginger 
Y2  teaspoon  cloves 
Yi  teaspoon  salt 

1   cup  mild  molasses 

1   cup  hot  water 

Cream  shortening,  add  sugar,  add  egg. 
Measure  and  sift  dry  ingredients,  combine 
molasses  and  hot  water,  add  dry  ingredients 
to  first  mixture,  alternately  with  liquid.  Bake 
in  a  greased  pan  nine  inches  square  in  a 
moderate  oven  (350°  F.)  for  45  minutes. 

Orange  Apricot  Tapioca 

1  package  orange  cocoanut  tapioca  pud- 
ding 

2  cups  milk 

Yi  cup  dried  apricots 
\Yi  cups  water 

34  cup  sugar 
Mix  tapioca  pudding  with  milk.  Cook 
over  low  heat,  stirring  constantly  until  mix- 
ture boils.  Remove  from  heat  and  cool. 
Cook  apricots  in  water  until  tender.  Add 
sugar  and  cook  five  minutes  longer.  Drain 
liquid  and  chop  apricots  finely.  When  cool, 
add  to  cool  tapioca  pudding.  Chill,  serve 
plain  or  with  whipped  cream. 

Thermos  Bottle  Foods 

The  thermos  bottle  makes  it  possible  to 
have  hot  or  cold  foods  in  a  lunchbox.  Every 
meal  is  more  appetizing  and  healthful  if  it 
includes  a  hot  dish.  Suitable  hot  foods  are 
soups  (either  of  milk  or  meat  stock)  and 
hot  beverages  such  as  hot  tomato  juice,  left- 


over vegetable  juices,  mild  cocoa,  or  milk. 
Cold  drinks  are  milk,  fruit  juices,  lemonade, 
tomato  juice,  and  malted  milk. 

Prune  Nog 

lJ/J  cups  evaporated  milk 
\Yi  cups  cold  water  or  milk 

3  cups  prune  juice 

Dash  of  nutmeg  or  cinnamon 

Mix  ingredients  and  chill. 

After  preparing  appetizing  and  nutritious 
lunches,  visit  your  school  and  see  that  there 
is  an  adequate  place  for  the  storing  of 
lunches  until  eaten. 


Payment  for  Handy  Hints  used  will  be 
one  dollar  upon  publication.  In  the  event 
that  two  with  the  same  idea  are  submitted, 
the  one  postmarked  earlier  will  receive  the 
dollar.  None  of  the  ideas  can  be  returned, 
but  each  will  receive  careful  consideration. 


Before  washing  a  wool  sweater,  sew  the 
buttonholes  together  in  order  to  avoid  their 
stretching. — Mrs.  O.  M.  F.,  Oakley,  Utah. 

Instead  of  guessing  the  amount  of  pow- 
dered soap  to  use  when  washing  the  dishes 
after  each  meal,  experiment  to  determine  the 
economical  amount  to  use  and  then  secure 
or  make  the  right-sized  container  and  leave 
it  in  the  box  at  all  times.  This  method  will 
save  from  five  to  ten  percent  in  the  cost  of 
soap,  and  thus  help  our  war  effort. — B.  M. 
O.,  Los  Angeles,  California. 

If  milk  is  brushed  lightly  over  the  top 
crust  of  pie  before  baking,  it  will  give  the 
pie  a  glazed  finish  and  turn  it  a  golden 
brown. — Mrs.  N.  W .,  Jerome,  Arizona. 

To  keep  paint  from  hardening,  pour 
melted  paraffin  over  the  paint  left  in  the  can 
and  keep  can  covered. — Mrs.  L.  M.  D.,  Salt 
Lake  City. 

Line  knife  and  fork  drawers  with  oil- 
cloth. It  is  inexpensive  and  can  be  pasted 
in.  It  is  easy  to  remove  and  clean,  and  the 
drawers  look  tidier  and  are  easier  to  keep 
clean. — Mrs.  /.  L.,  Afton,  W yoming. 

Brush  the  lower  crust  of  a  fruit  pie  with 
the  white  of  an  egg  before  putting  in  the 
fruit  and  your  pie  crust  will  not  become 
soaked  or  soggy  with  the  moisture  from 
the  fruit. — Mrs.  D.  A.,  Altamont,  Kansas. 


MOSLEM 

IN  NAME  ONLY 


By 

S.  EDWARD  WILLIAMS 


When  Cortez  and  his  audacious 
little  band  of  some  six  hundred 
men  invaded  Mexico  they  saw 
growing  crops  that  were  a  mystery  to 
them  and  entirely  unknown  in  Europe, 
but  they  also  saw  many  strange  living 
creatures.  Among  the  strangest  of  the 
living  things  was  a  large  domestic  bird 
that  the  Aztecs  called  "totolin."  Great 
flocks  of  totolin  were  to  be  found  every- 
where throughout  the  empire  of  Monte- 
zuma II,  and  it  was  said  that  a  thousand 
of  these  big  domestic  birds  were  daily 
fed  to  the  animals  in  the  Emperor's  big 
zoo  in  Tenochtitlan,  the  wonderfully 
beautiful  city  that  rose  up  out  of  Lake 
Texcuco. 

Along  with  much  gold,  strange  farm 
products,  and  strange  animals,  Cortez 
shipped  many  totolin  to  the  King  of 
Spain. 

Immediately  this  big  domestic  bird 
became  popular  in  Europe,  but  Eng- 
lishmen, for  some  unknown  reason,  got 
the  idea  that  this  strange  new  domestic 
bird  had  come  from  the  Near  East  and 
began  to  call  it  a  "turkey."  And,  by 
the  time  the  public  had  become  aware 
that  it  was  an  American  bird,  the  Mos- 
lem name  of  "turkey"  had  become  so 
(Concluded  on  page  751 ) 


TABLECLOTH  MAGIC/ 


724 


SAM  BRAN  NAN 


{Continued  [rom  page  692) 

As  the  ship  headed  out  into  the  At- 
lantic, the  Saints  were  not  long  in  dis- 
covering other  discomforts — from 
which  there  would  be  no  relief  for 
months  to  come.  Not  the  least  of  these 
was  a  lack  of  headroom  below  deck. 
So  low  were  the  ceilings  that  only  a 
dwarf  could  stand  erect.  For  a  person 
of  normal  stature  to  move  about,  it 
was  necessary  to  crouch  monkey- 
fashion. 

Elder  Brannan  chose  staterooms 
alongside  Captain  Richardson  in  the 
ship's  officers'  quarters.  For  a  few  days 
he  democratically  took  meals  with  the 
passengers  in  the  mess  hall.  But  the  in- 
fernal clatter  of  tin  plates,  the  howling, 
seasick  babies,  and  the  bilgy  smell 
quickly  offended  his  fastidious  sensibi- 
lities. For  the  remainder  of  the  voy- 
age he  dined  at  the  captain's  table — 
and  there  were  whispers  among  those 
less  fortunate.1 

Before  leaving  New  York  he'd 
drawn  up  an  elaborate  code  of  con- 
duct, to  which  he  now  insisted  the 
Saints  adhere.  Affairs  were  to  be 
guided  by  a  set  of  twenty-one  rules 
which  covered  everything  from  insub- 
ordination to  Sabbath  observance.  To 
complete  his  presidency  he  chose  two 
counselors,  E.  Ward  Pell  and  Isaac 
Robbins.  He  appointed  assistants  and 
table  waiters,  and  divided  the  seventy 
men  aboard  into  "watches"  to  keep 
twenty-four-hour  guard  on  person  and 
property. 

He  was  punctilious  in  his  demands 
for  proper  religious  devotion.  Prayers 
were  to  be  held  every  evening — on 
deck  when  weather  was  fair,  in  the 
mess  hall  when  cold  or  storms  made 
the  deck  untenable.  Attendance  was 
obligatory.  The  Sabbath  was  a  day  of 
rest  and  praise,  during  which  the  young 
elder  loudly  exhorted  them  to  "a  true 
sense  of  duty." 

This  elaborate  scheme  of  govern- 
ment and  discipline  had  scarcely  begun 
before  it  was  broken  into  by  ruthless 
and  unheeding  weather  elements.  In 
less  than  a  week  after  swinging  into 
the  Atlantic  from  Sandy  Hook,  the  ves- 
sel was  clutched  in  the  grip  of  a  storm 
which  brought  consternation  and  ter- 
ror to  the  huddled  Saints  "below."  The 
howling  gale  which  descended  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  horse  latitudes  came 
very  nearly  ending  the  audacious  ven- 
ture once  and  for  all.  Four  days  and 
four  nights  the  little  vessel  was  at  the 
mercy  of  the  storm.  The  "passenger 
deck"  of  the  pitching  ship  became  an 
appalling  sight.  Pots,  pans,  luggage, 
and  tables  were  thrown  about  in  clat- 
tering melee.  The  Saints,  most  of  them 
New  England  farmers  and  mechanics, 
and  totally  unused  to  rigors  of  the  sea, 
were  prey  to  sickness  doubly  ag- 
gravated by  the  violence  of  the  storm. 

While  the  helpless  vessel  was  blown 

1A  number  of  intimate  touches  bearing  on  Bran- 
nan's  conduct  are  mentioned  in  the  Glover  Ms., 
Bancroft  Library,  University  of  California,  Berkeley. 
This   is  probably  the  best   eyewitness   account  extant. 


ever  nearer  the  treacherous  coast  line 
of  the  Cape  Verde  Islands,  Samuel 
Brannan  fought  panic.  "Sing!"  he'd 
bellow.  "Sing  all!"  And  through  those 
awful  days  and  nights,  the  Saints  sang 
down  the  howl  of  the  winds  and  the 
roar  of  the  waves  which  crashed  the 
deck  above  their  heads.  With  retch- 
ing stomachs,  with  trembling  fear,  they 
clung  to  pitching  benches  to  lift  brave 
voices  in  "The  Spirit  of  God,"  and  "We 
Are  Going  to  California." 

There  was  one  occasion  when  even 
the  grizzled  Captain  Richardson  be- 
came convinced  all  was  lost.  Going 
below  to  inform  his  Mormon  charges 
they  might  as  well  prepare  for  the 
worst,  he  was  astonished  and  ashamed 
by  their  show  of  composure  in  the 
face  of  danger.  Then,  when  death  and 
a  watery  grave  seemed  most  imminent, 
the  wind  suddenly  shifted,  and  gradual- 
ly died  to  sailing  breeze.  The  mighty 
swells  and  dashing  seas,  which  for  days 
had  threatened  to  broach  the  ship, 
slowly  died  to  a  gentle  chop.  The 
long-hidden  sun  shone  again  in  answer 
to  their  prayers.  After  burying  their 
dead  in  the  steelly  waters  of  the  At- 
lantic, the  Saints  knelt  in  prayerful 
thanksgiving  for  deliverance  from  the 
storm. 

In  a  week  the  Brooklyn  had  passed 
into  the  region  of  the  gentler  southeast 
trades.  For  days  on  end  the  old  ship 
plowed  its  way  through  green  seas  to- 
ward the  southernmost  tip  of  the  world. 
Winter  days  grew  warm  and  comfort- 
able. The  equator  was  crossed  early 
in  March,  and  King  Neptune  was  duly 
crowned  with  all  the  hilarity  usually 
accompanying  such  an  event. 

But  Samuel  Brannan,  as  he  restless- 
ly stalked  the  ship,  visioned  to  himself 
the  broad  vistas  of  the  future.  To  make 
their  venture  workable  there  needs 
must  be  a  pattern  of  government  strong 
enough  to  weather  the  problems  and 
adversities  certain  to  beset  them  when 
the  voyage  ended  and  they  were  con- 
fronted with  the  task  of  subduing  the 
earth  and  pioneering  a  commonwealth. 
With  these  cares  dinning  in  his  ears 
he  called  a  shipboard  meeting.  The 
plan  he  presented  bore  partial  sem- 
blance to  the  Prophet's  United  Order, 
but  he  added  faults  to  it  of  his  own 
making.  Each  Saint  was  asked  to  sub- 
scribe to  articles  of  agreement,  which, 
roughly,  included  among  its  points: 

1.  They  would  unite  to  form  one 
company. 

2.  They  would,  as  a  single  body, 
make  every  effort  to  pay  the  debt 
of  transportation. 

3.  They  would,  with  one  accord, 
make  preparations  for  members 
of  the  Church  who  were  coming 
overland. 

4.  They  would  give  the  proceeds  of 
their  labor  for  the  next  three 
years  to  a  common  fund  from 
which  all  were  to  have  a  living. 

5.  If  any  refused  to  obey  the  laws 

(Continued  on  page  726) 


IDEAS 


From  My  Kitchen  to  Yours! 

$5  TEA  GARDEN-SUNSET  IDEA 
OF  THE  MONTH 

The  $5  Tea  Garden  merchandise  award 
for  the  November  "Tea  Garden  Idea", 
as  judged  by  the  Improvement  Era  food 
editor,  goes  to  Miss  Lenora  Flake  of 
Olympia,  Wash.,  for  her  recipe  for: 

TEA  GARDEN  RED  CURRANT 
MERINGUE  CAKE 

Split  4  (3-inch)  squares  of  sponge  cake, 
or  4  plain  cup  cakes,  and  fill  generously 
with  Tea  Garden  Red  Currant  Jelly. 
Beat  1  egg  white  until  stiff;  gradually 
beat  in  2  tablespoons  powdered  sugar; 
add  %  cup  Tea  Garden  Red  Currant 
Jelly;  beat  until  smooth.  Spread  me- 
ringue over  filled  cakes;  garnish  with  a 
bit  of  jelly.  Serves  4.  Vary  the  kind  of 
cake  and  the  flavor  of  the  jelly  to  suit 
your  taste. 

CRANBERRY-MARMALADE  SAUCE 

The  traditional  holiday  cranberry  sauce 
Jakes  on  new  interest  when  combined 
with  Tea  Garden  Orange  Marmalade. 
With  a  fork,  mix  1  cup  cranberry  sauce 
(or  jelly)  ;  %  cup  Tea  Garden  Marma- 
lade . . .  and  you  have  a  zippy,  tangy 
relish  with  an  exciting  new  flavor.  Ex- 
cellent on  meats  or  poultry.  Tea  Garden 
Marmalade  is  made  of  fresh,  golden 
oranges  . . .  adds  zest  to  any  meal. 

Gifts  for  the  hoys  in  service. 
A  Christmas  Box  of  goodit< 
loaded  with  Tea  Garden  d*  l- 
icacies.  Last  mailing  dale 
for  overseas  trot  ps  is  No- 
vember 1st. 

HOTCAKES  FOR  BRISK  MORNINGS 

These  glorious,  brisk  mornings  suggest 
steaming  buttered  hotcakes  deluged 
with  luscious  Tea  Garden  Drips.  It's  a 
rich,  hearty  syrup  of  delicately  flavored 
sugars.  It  gets  along  famously  with  hot- 
cakes or  waffles.  Tastes  so  good,  it  adds 
new  "zip"  and  "go"  to  your  morning's 
work ! 

lCL€(l!  In  addition  to  using  Maraschino 
Cherries  in  cocktails  or  fruit  drinks,  in- 
clude a  dish  of  Tea  Garden  Maraschino 
Cherries  with  your  other  hors  d'oeuvres. 

New  Pumpkin  Sauce:  Whip  M> 
cup  heavy  cream.  Fold  in  2  table- 
spoons Tea  Garden  Drips  and  a 
dash  of  cinnamon.  Serve  atop  Pumpkin 
Pie  or  Pudding.  Also  delicious  served 
on  squares  of  Chocolate  or  plain  cake. 

EVER  TRIED  A    COOKIE  SANDWICH? 

For  a  novel  sandwich,  fill  large  sugar 
cookies  with  a  spread  of  cream  cheese 
and  a  generous  amount  of  Tea  Garden 
Raspberry  or  Blackberry  Preserves. 
It's  a  delicious,  satisfying  snack.  Great 
for  children's  or  defense  workers'  lunch 
boxes.  Just  as  appetizing  with  bread  or 
rolls.  Tea  Garden  Preserves  are  made  of 
large,  luscious  table-quality  fruits. 

YOUR  TEA  GARDEN  HOSTESS 


I 


PRESERVES 


GRAPE  JUICE 


MARASCHINO 


JELLIES 


TEA 
GARDEN 

.QUALITY, 


SYRUPS 


CHERRIES 


SWEET  PICKLED  AND  CANDIED  FRUITS 
SUCH  A  BIG  DIFFERENCE  IN  QUALITY... 
fMCH    A    MTTIF    D'FFERENCE    IN     PRICE! 


725 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


Morning  Milk 

Utah  Makes  It! 
The  West 


''V 


IL 


ITAH  HOMEMAKERS  made  home- 
owned  Morning  Milk  the  fastest-selling 
evaporated  milk  in  the  Intermountain  West. 
Then  Morning  Milk's  finer  flavor  brought 
demands  from  consumers  throughout  the 
West!  So  today  the  modern  MfMrning  Jrfiik 
plants  in  Wellsville,  Utah,  Sunnyside,  Wash- 
ington, and  Stockton,  California,  are  busy 
producing  for  Western  America  the  finer- 
flavored  evaporated  milk  that 
you  in  Utah  made  famous1 

Morning  Milk  is  {till  the 
only  Utah -owned  evap- 
orated milk  on  the  market! 


rwM$ 


crf» 


VSBL 


vl, 


Your  OWN 


MORNING  MILK 


ME  For  OVER  FIFTY  YEARS 

Aids  in  treatment  of  Canker,  simple 
sore  throat  and  other  minor  mouth 
and  throat  irritations. 

Hall's  Canker  Remedy 

536   East   2nd   So.   —   at   Salt   Lake    City,   Utah 

726 


SAM  BRAN  NAN 


(Continued  from  page  725) 
laid  down,  they  should  be  ex- 
pelled. 
6.  In  event  all  the  Saints  departed 
from  the  covenant  the  common 
property  was  to  rest  with  the 
elders,  and  if  the  elders  fell  from 
grace,  the  common  fund  was  to 
pass  to  the  first  elder.2 

As  "First  Elder,"  Samuel  Brannan 
assumed  titular  head  of  the  body  poli- 
tic and  custodian  of  its  property.  To 
continue  the  personal  note  even  fur- 
ther, the  Order  was  given  the  name 
of  "Samuel  Brannan  &  Company." 
Grumbling  immediately  was  manifest 
because  of  those  clauses  so  patently 
favorable  to  the  leader's  interests.  Yet, 
with  a  loyal  Mormon's  respect  for 
authority,  all  subscribed  their  names  to 
the  agreement.  Inexorable  justice 
would  deal  with  the  contract's  irregu- 
larities, and  an  all-seeing  God  could 
be  depended  upon  to  humble  any  leader 
who  might  be  foolish  enough  to  allow 
opportunism  to  advance  personal  af- 
fairs at  the  expense  of  true  humility  and 
the  doctrines  of  the  Master. 

The  old  hull  bore  steadily  south- 
ward under  drive  of  the  favorable  and 
constant  southeast  trades.  Colder 
days  and  nights  gradually  became 
persistent  reminders  of  old  "Cape 
Stiff"  yet  to  be  rounded,  and  ever 
growing  nearer.  Sometime  in  April, 
when  the  deck  no  longer  was  a  pleas- 
ant spot  to  relax,  the  Brooklyn  headed 
her  barnacled  prow  into  the  frigidly 
treacherous  waters  of  Drake's  Passage. 
Cape  pigeons,  and  the  trailing  petrels 
with  mourning  cry,  seemed  morbid 
harbingers  of  the  perils  ahead.  But 
eventually,  through  the  skillful  sea- 
manship of  Captain  Richardson,  Cape 
Horn  was  rounded,  and  that  graveyard 
of  ships  at  last  put  behind  them. 

As  the  Brooklyn  headed  northward 
along  the  coast  of  Chile,  hopes  and 
spirits  raised  with  every  mile.  At  last 
they  were  on  the  mighty  Pacific.  Soon 
Valparaiso  would  be  reached — their 
first  landfall  since  leaving  New  York. 

Indeed,  it  was  high  time  the  vessel 
made  port.  Drinking  water  had  be- 
come so  scarce  it  was  rationed  in  pints. 
Firewood  for  the  galley  was  all  but  ex- 
hausted. Warm  meals  must  soon  be- 
come a  memory,  unless  needed  fuel  was 
supplied  for  the  cook's  stove.  But  most 
of  all,  the  pilgrims  were  utterly  weary 
of  the  monotonous  days,  the  weeks  on 
end  of  sea  and  sky,  and  nothing  more. 
Every  soul  looked  forward  to  setting 
foot  in  the  lovely  city  of  Valparaiso. 

But  the  Brooklyn  and  its  hopeful 
passengers  never  saw  Valparaiso. 
When  within  the  very  reach  of  its 
harbor  entrance,  an  offshore  gale  broke 
upon  them.  For  three  days  and  nights 
the  elements  raged,  until  the  ship  was 
blown  back  almost  to  the  Cape  itself. 
When  finally  the  storm  died,  and  the 

2This  item,  in  more  extended  form,  is  contained  in 
the  Dunlap  Thesis  (unpublished),  undergraduate 
division,    University   of   California. 


world  of  sea  and  sky  grew  calm 
again,  several  children  were  dead  in 
the  suffocating  hold  of  the  ship,  and 
despair  was  felt  for  the  life  of  Sister 
Laura  Goodwin,  who  had  been  thrown 
from  a  ladder-way  during  the  gale's 
fury. 

Discouraged,  Captain  Richardson 
made  no  further  attempt  to  gain  harbor 
at  Valparaiso.  His  decision,  born  from 
the  desperateness  of  their  predicament, 
was  to  strike  for  the  lonely  island  of 
Juan  Fernandez.  On  May  4,  1846,  the 
Brooklyn  dropped  her  rusty  anchor  into 
the  mooring  cove  of  the  island  which 
Defoe  had  chosen  as  setting  for  his  im- 
mortal Robinson  Crusoe.  Events 
proved  it  a  more  fortunate  choice  than 
Valparaiso  could  ever  have  been. 
Ship's  casks  were  filled  with  the  is- 
land's abundance  of  finest  drinking 
water.  Firewood  was  present  for  the 
simple  effort  of  its  gathering  and  bal- 
ing by  the  willing  hands  of  the  Mor- 
mon pilgrims.  The  place  abounded 
with  wild  goats.  Rocky  shoreline 
teemed  with  fish  hungry  for  the  hook. 
Peaches  and  wild  fruit  were  there  for 
appetites  satiated  with  ship  biscuit  and 
brined  pork,  and  the  huge  crawfish 
which  frequented  its  streams  rivaled 
the  best  eastern  lobster. 

Barrels  of  food  were  packed  and 
salted.  These,  along  with  the  water 
casks  and  firewood,  were  safely  stowed 
in  the  Brooklyn's  hold — and  all  with 
little  cost  to  "Brannan  &  Company." 
Similar  stocks  in  Valparaiso  would 
have  taken  a  considerable  outlay  of 
their  slender  resources.  It  was  easier 
for  the  Saints  to  forget  the  storm's 
misery  when  they  considered  this  sign 
of  divine  intervention  in  their  behalf. 

Sister  Laura  Goodwin  was  never 
privileged  to  continue  the  voyage.  But 
of  those  who  died  en  route,  she  alone 
found  resting  place  on  dry  land.  Her 
body,  after  a  solemn  funeral,  was 
lowered  to  its  island  grave.  And  there 
she  lies  today. 

After  five  days  at  Juan  Fernandez 
the  little  ship  struck  boldly  out  across 
the  trackless  Pacific,  perfect  weather 
holding  almost  to  the  Sandwich  [Ha- 
waiian] Islands.  Day  following  day 
the  creaking  sails  bore  them  over  warm 
and  gentle  seas  at  constant  speed  of 
from  six  to  seven  knots  an  hour. 

Through  months  past,  death  had 
struck  the  little  company  of  Saints  on 
ten  tragic  occasions.  Yet  life,  too,  had 
partially  offset  the  loss.  In  mid- Atlan- 
tic the  ship's  midwife  had  successfully 
delivered  a  healthy  baby  to  a  seasick 
mother  aboard.  At  the  suggestion  of  the 
versatile  Samuel  Brannan,  the  tiny  boy 
was  named  "Atlantic,"  after  the  ocean 
of  its  birth.  Now,  once  more  and  this 
time  in  the  calm  Pacific,  a  girl  was  born. 
To  follow  precedent,  she  duly  was 
christened  "Pacific." 

Early  in  the  voyage  Elder  Brannan 
had  instituted  military  drill  for  the 
seventy  men  who  comprised  the 
ship's  male  complement.     As  soldiers, 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


Sam  Brannan 

they  made  a  brave  aggregation  of 
farmers  and  mechanics — until  Bran- 
nan  dug  up  a  suitable  bolt  of  cloth  from 
the  cargo  miscellany,  and  busy  fingers 
of  the  women  were  soon  at  work  pro- 
viding uniforms  for  the  shipboard  "bat- 
talion." After  that  the  men  wheeled 
and  turned  about  deck  with  a  jaunti- 
ness  which  only  a  uniform  can  give. 
Samuel  Brannan  made  capital  use  of 
these  long,  warm  days  of  the  Pacific  to 
round  out  the  military  knowledge  of 
his  little  army,  under  tutorship  of  an  ex- 
soldier  by  the  name  of  Samuel  Ladd. 

For  thirty  days  the  vessel  sailed 
west  by  north.  Then  suddenly  the  wind 
died,  and  they  were  becalmed  on  a 
glassy,  tropic  sea.  Not  so  much  as  a 
breath  of  wind  stirred  the  drooped 
sails  for  more  than  a  week.  To  the 
Saints,  who  had  suffered  in  their 
cramped  quarters  for  more  than  a 
hundred  days,  this  was  a  grievous  ex- 
perience. When  finally  the  endless 
monotony  of  it  threatened  to  drive 
them  to  madness,  they  cried  in  despera- 
tion to  heaven  for  deliverance.  And 
at  long  last,  as  if  in  answer  to  their 
importuning,  a  breeze  stirred  the  wilted 
canvas  overhead.  A  joyous  shout  went 
up.    The  rickety  hull  began  to  move. 

A  week  later  the  Brooklyn  dropped 
anchor  in  Honolulu  harbor,  to  take  on 
supplies  and  discharge  the  five  hundred 
barrels  of  freight  which  the  canny 
Brannan  had  contracted  to  deliver  to 
help  defray  expense  of  the  voyage. 
This  second  landfall  was  reached  June 
20,  after  one  hundred  and  thirty-six 
days  at  sea. 

As  the  vessel  rounded  Diamond 
Head  to  anchorage,  a  strange  sight  met 
Mormon  eyes.  Ominously  offshore, 
bristling  with  guns,  stood  a  number  of 
American  warships.  The  meaning  of 
all  this  was  quickly  learned.  United 
States  and  Mexico  were  at  war!  Cali- 
fornia soon  would  be  American  soil! 
Present  with  the  fleet  was  Commodore 
Stockton,  with  his  flagship,  the  frigate 
Congress.  Ships  were  provisioning  to 
assault  the  very  place  Mormons  al- 
ready had  sailed  four  and  one-half 
months  to  reach. 

This  was  astonishing  news.  To  many 
Saints,  grievous  news.  Like  the  Puri- 
tans before  them,  they  had  fled  their 
native  country  to  work  out  their  sal- 
vation in  a  new  land.  Had  they  sought 
freedom — only  to  lose  it?  Now  that 
California  was  destined  to  become  a 
part  of  the  United  States,  would  the 
same  persecution  follow? 

To  aggravate  the  already  delicate 
situation,  Elder  Brannan  suddenly  con- 
ceived a  daring  plan.  Wliy  shouldn't 
he  and  his  shipboard-soldiers  achieve 
historical  acclaim  by  taking  Yerba 
Buena  by  force  of  arms?  By  being  the 
first  to  plant  the  American  flag  on  San 
Francisco  Bay? 

It  is  doubtful  if  the  Saints  in  his 
charge  were  aware  of  their  fame- 
hunting,  filibustering  leader's  inten- 
tions. Many  of  the  brethren  favored 
changing  their   course   to   Oregon    or 


Victoria    Island.       Not    a    few    were  their  settled  plans  to  disembark  on  the 

anxious  to  turn  back.     Samuel  Bran-  California  coast;  of  their  obligation  to 

nan  answered  by  reminding   them  of  "prepare  a  place"  for  the  Saints  from 
their  promises  to  President  Young;  of  {Continued  on  page  728) 


Stt/w. /6pa4w£w4*ti  APPLE  FRITTERS 


"MEXT  time  you  treat  your  family  to  a  pork  roast  try 
^  this  simple  recipe  for  apple  fritters  sent  in  by  Mrs. 
Spaunhoven  of  Sacramento.  And,  to  be  sure  of  fluffy 
tenderness  use  Enriched  Globe  "Al"  Flour.  It's  always 
dependable  ...  for  everything  you  bake.  Complete 
satisfaction  guaranteed  or  your  money  refunded. 


Al 


APPLE  FRITTERS 


RSSSP^ 


1  V3  e.  GLOBE  "Al"  FLOUR  \  egg 

1  y2  Isp.  baking  powder  Tart  apples 

Vi  tsp.  sail  Confectioners'  sugar 

2/3  c.  milk  1  tbsp.  lemon  juice 


Sift  flour  once,  measure,  add  baking 
powder  and  salt;  sift  again.  Gradually 
add  milk  and  well-beaten  egg.  Peel, 
core  and  slice  apples  crosswise; 
sprinkle  with  confectioners'  sugar  and 
lemon  juice;  cover  and  let  stand  % 
hour.  Drain  and  dip  each  slice  first  in 

a  little  GLOBE  "Al"  FLOUR,  then  in  batter.  Fry  In  deep  hot 

fat  (370  degrees)  until  golden  brown  and  apple  is  tender. 

Drain  on  unglazed  paper.    Sprinkle  with  mixture  of  2  tbsp. 

sugar  and  1  tsp.  cinnamon. 


Uhim^k 


FOR  EVERYTHING  YOU  BAKE! 


WM  ABOUT  HUSKIES' 


ur 


Q.  Can  a  dog  eat  too  much  of  one  thing? 

A.  Too  much  of  anything  is  as  bad  for  dogs  as 
for  humans.  That's  why  dogs  do  best  on  a 
complete  food  like  Friskies.  It  contains  19 
essential  ingredients  for  proper  nutrition. 

Q.  Does  Fnskies  contain  meat  products? 

A.%s — meat  and  bone  scraps  for  the  proteins 
all  dogs  need.  Friskies  also  contains  cooked 
cereals,  dried  skimmed  milk,  minerals  and  six 
vitamins — all  in  adequate  amounts ! 

Q.Do  dogs  like  Friskies? 

A.  %s !  Friskies  is  scientifically  blended  to  accen- 
tuate the  flavor  most  dogs  prefer.  What's 
more,  Friskies  is  economical,  easy  to  feed ! 

FEED  FRISKIES  IN  CUBE  AND 
MEAL  FORM  FOR  VARIETY! 


Atmmn 

m 

..  ..—_*■■ 


727 


MAPI"*" 


'© 


made  with  SUGAR 

pour  2  cups  boiling  water 
over  4  cups  sugar 
add  1  teaspoon  Mapleine 
stir  and  you  have  .  .  . 

2  pints  Mapleine  Syrup 


© 


with  CORN  SYRUP 

boi/  T/2  cups  hot  water 
3  cups  corn  syrup 

for  5  minutes 
add  1  teaspoon  Mapleine 
stir  and  you  have  .  .  . 

2  pints  Mapleine  Syrup 


with  HONEY  &  CORN  SYRUP 

heat  1  cup  hot  water 

Vi  cup  strained  honey 
2'/j  cups  corn  syrup 

Bring  to  full  boil, 
add  1  teaspoon  Mapleine 
stir  and  you  have  .  .  . 

2  pints  Mapleine  Syrup 


Plenty  of  golden-rich  syrup,  even 
in  wartime!  Make  yours  easily, 
save  money!  Three  grand  ways, 
with  Mapleine.  One,  America's 
favorite  for  35  years.  And  two 
wartime  recipes -sugarless!  Get 
a  bottle  of  Mapleine  from  your  grocer  now! 

MAPLEINE 

IMITATION   MAPLE    FLAVOR 
gtyv  £y/utf?  +  fin  ^lau&Uyiq 


i%     REMEMBER    & 


w 


HE  OBJECT  OF 

YOUR  AFFECTIONS' 


WITH 


jiCLGULiu    Delicious 

PINK&GOLD 

CHOCOLATES 


THIS  HOLIDAY  SEASON 


* 


'Order  From  Your  Favorite 
Candy  Dealer  Now" 


* 


SAM  BRANNAN 


[Concluded  from  page  727) 
Nauvoo.     After  his  canny  persuasion, 
duty   pointed   in   one   direction    only. 
They  must  go  on  to  California. 

While  the  ship  replenished  supplies, 
Samuel's  bold  plan  was  hatched — ap- 
parently with  the  collaboration  of 
American  naval  authorities.  Ten  days 
later,  when  the  Brooklyn  again  put  to 
sea,  a  hundred  and  fifty  stands  of 
American  military  arms  were  secreted 
in  her  hold.  And  in  the  head  of  the 
volatile  Samuel  was  a  grandiose  scheme 
to  earn  for  himself  a  dashing  immor- 
tality in  the  history  of  American  con- 
quest. 

Captain  Richardson's  keenly  observ- 
ant eyes  had  witnessed  both  the  secret 
stowing  of  arms  and  the  egoistic  swag- 
ger of  Samuel  Brannan,  but  had  inter- 
preted affairs  quite  differently.  To  him 
it  never  occurred  that  the  visionary 
leader  could  ever  have  rashly  thought 
of  inducing  seventy  sober  men  to  storm 
the  Mexican  garrison  at  Yerba  Buena. 
This  peaceful  captain  of  a  rickety 
merchantman  had  no  taste  for  war.  He 
had  no  intentions  of  acquiring  any.  His 
fear  was  that  Samuel  Brannan  con- 
templated mutiny,  and  to  forestall  such 
danger  he  padlocked  the  arms  and  for- 
bade shipboard  drill. 

While  inconvenient  for  Samuel,  he 
was  by  no  means  discouraged.  There 
would  be  opportunity  and  time  enough 
to  use  the  arms  when  the  ship  reached 
California,  and  enough  drill  had  been 
taught  the  men  to  hold  them  to  the  as- 
sault. Little  did  the  brethren  realize 
the  plans  and  purposes  of  their  leader. 

But  far  graver  problems  beset  Sam- 
uel Brannan's  path.  There  was  grum- 
bling among  his  flock.  There  were 
whisperings  about  his  "privileges,^ 
"fancy  living,"  "high-handed  tactics/' 
So,  to  put  an  end  to  these  "apostate" 
utterances  and  certain  "sins"  his  in- 
quisitorial eyes  had  beheld  aboard 
ship,  he  decided  to  make  ruthless  ex- 
ample of  "back-biters  and  evil-doers." 
In  the  farcical  shipboard  trial  which 
followed,  four  brethren  were  merciless- 
ly excommunicated  for  "improper 
views,"  and  "wicked  and  licentious 
conduct."*  Samuel  Brannan  had  tasted 
power.  As  an  ax-swinger,  he  showed 
himself  to  be  no  respecter  of  persons. 
One  of  the  excommunicated  four  was 
his  own  counselor,  E.  Ward  Pell. 

Instead  of  silencing  whispered  pro- 
tests, this  last  act  served  only  to  fan  a 
rebellion  already  smoldering  against 
such  inhuman  arrogance.  But  the  faith- 
ful Brooklyn,  unmindful  of  this  sad 
cleavage  of  Mormon  ranks,  plunged 
ever  eastward  toward  California. 
Nearer  crept  the  land  which  for  the 
Saints  held  so  singular  a  destiny.  At 
daybreak,  July  31,  1846,  a  wall  of  green 
hills  was  sighted  through  the  naze. 
After  six  weary  months  of  travel,  at 
last  the  place  they  sought  was  before 
them. 

Certain  that  danger  of  mutiny  was 
past,  Captain  Richardson  now  unlocked 

*See  Journal  History,  Jan.   1,   1847— 2A. 


the  arms.  Samuel  Brannan  distributed 
them  to  his  sober-faced,  questioning 
battalion.  But  the  cautious  old  Rich- 
ardson was  not  at  all  anxious  to  have 
the  deck  blown  out  from  under  him  by 
cannon  from  the  presidio.  Sensing  a 
fresh  peril,  and  strictly  against  Bran- 
nan's  wishes,  he  crowded  every  pas- 
senger down  the  hatches  and  cleared 
the  deck  of  all  warlike  evidence. 

Through  the  fog-bound  Golden  Gate 
the  little  ship  wallowed  her  way. 
When  the  fort  was  safely  past,  Rich- 
ardson opened  the  hatches  and  once 
more  allowed  his  charges  on  deck.  The 
Brooklyn  rounded  the  green  nub  of 
land,  and  while  Samuel  Brannan's  dark 
eyes  strained  for  glimpse  of  the  enemy 
through  the  morning  haze,  she  slid  into 
the  quiet  waters  of  Yerba  Buena  Cove. 

And  there  an  unexpected  sight  met 
the  gaze  of  Samuel  and  his  pilgrims. 
Among  the  whalers  and  hide  droghers 
rocking  at  anchor,  was  the  unmistak- 
able outline  of  a  sloop-of-war.  Sud- 
denly, through  the  rising  mist,  came 
sight  of  the  little  town.  From  a  mast 
beside  the  low,  squat  Mexican  customs 
house  drooped  a  flag.  It  was  the  Stars 
and  Stripes. 

A  moment  later  the  war-sloop's  jolly- 
boat  thumped  alongside.  A  brisk, 
young  officer  swung  to  the  Brooklyn's 
deck  and  saluted  the  crowd  of  excited 
Mormons.  "Ladies  and  gentlemen," 
he  said,  "I  have  the  honor  to  inform 
you  that  you  are  now  in  the  United 
States  of  America."3  For  a  moment 
there  was  silence.  Then  a  lusty  cheer 
broke  forth. 

Commander  John  B.  Montgomery 
and  the  sloop  Portsmouth  had  cheated 
Samuel  Brannan  of  his  dream.  But  to 
the  Mormons  of  the  Brooklyn,  who  had 
sought  peace,  not  war,  there  came  a 
conscious  sigh  of  relief  and  satisfac- 
tion. Their  haven  was  reached,  their 
voyage  had  ended.  They  were  the  first 
California  settlers  under  the  Ameri- 
can flag.  Their  greater  destiny  lay  be- 
fore them. 

3Western   Galaxy.    March,    1888. 

( To  be  continued) 


ANSWERS  TO  OLD 
TESTAMENT  CURIOSITIES 

{Questions  on  page  674) 

1.  Abraham.   (Genesis  15:5.) 

2.  Cyrus.   (Isaiah  44:28;  Ezra  1:1.) 
3    Esther. 

1  Seer.  (I  Samuel  9:9.) 

5.  Tiglath-pileser,  first  king  of  As- 
syria. (2  Kings  15:29. ) 

6.  "The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord 
hath  taken  away;  blessed  be  the  name 
of  the  Lord."  (Job  1:21.) 

7.  He  that  ruleth  his  spirit.  (Pro- 
verbs 16:32.) 

8.  Sons  of  Joseph.  (I  Chronicles  5: 
6.) 

9.  Four.  Jesus,  (Luke  1:28);  John, 
the  Baptist,  (Luke  1:13);  Isaac,  (Gene- 
sis 18:10);  Samson,  (Judges  13:3.) 

10.  Samuel.  (I  Samuel  15:22.) 


728 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


THE  GENERAL'S  BOOTS 


(Concluded  from  page  716) 
"I  might  have  known!     Well,  isn't 
it?" 

The  boy's  eyelids  were  meekly 
downturned  and  his  head  was 
bowed. 

"Si,  Senor  general,"  he  mumbled 
slowly.  "Si,  it  is  gone.  But  I  do  not 
just  throw  it  away!  Besides  I  do  not 
need  shoes.  For  one  whole  month 
I  go  thees  way.    I  not  mind." 

"Oh,  you  don't!"  the  general 
snapped.  "You  think  I  gave  you  the 
five  dollars  for  pleasure  no  doubt. 
What  is  in  the  box?  Candy  for  some 
young  senorita?" 

"No,"  the  boy  shook  his  head. 
"No,  Senor  general!" 

"Then  a  book,  of  course!  One 
which  cost  five  dollars?" 

The  general's  mocking  voice 
slashed  like  a  bayonet.  He  hovered 
menacingly  over  the  lad  for  one 
tense  moment.  In  the  foreboding 
silence,  the  boy  could  feel  the  gen- 
eral's warm  breath.  With  a  shrug 
of  disgust,  the  general  finally  strut- 
ted off. 

"Wait,  Senor  general!" 

The  boy  ran  after  him. 

"Please,  Senor  general!  Wait!" 

The  officer  halted.  But  there  was 
an  insatiated  violence  in  his  glower. 

J-HE  young  Mexican's 
sweaty  fingers  nervously  pulled  at 
the  string  on  his  package.  He  tore 
it  open.  "Look,  Senor!  This  pres- 
ent! Look  at  it,  please!  Please,  Senor 
general!  Then  you  see  I  do  not  just 
throw  the  money  away!" 

The  general's  attitude  was  one  of 
patience  totally  spent.  He  was  in  no 
mood  for  deception  now.  Neverthe- 
less he  looked  down  at  the  present. 
He  saw  an  expensive  electric  heat- 
ing pad. 

"It  all  come  to  four  dollars  and 
ninety  cents,"  the  boy  explained  hur- 


riedly. "I  have  to  get  thees  for  my 
mother,  Senor.  She  need  it  real  bad! 
She  ache  all  over,  in  arms,  legs,  and 
chest.  She  ache  until  she  almost  cry, 
Senor.  The  doctor  at  clinic,  he  call 
it  neuritis  and  say  to  get  best  elec- 
tric heating  pad  there  are.  But  we 
have  no  money  for  one.  Yet  we  have 
to  get  pad.    We  have  to!" 

The  boy  paused  with  a  low  sigh. 

"Then  you  give  me  five  dollars. 
Shoes,  Senor?  I  am  young  and  strong 
and  my  feet  they  are  tough.  But 
my  mother — no." 

The  boy's  eyes  were  moist  as  his 
voice  broke.  The  general  shifted 
about  uncomfortably. 

"Why  didn't  you  tell  me,  son?" 
His  voice  became  gentle.  "Why 
didn't  you  tell  me  before  about  your 
mother?" 

He  stood  with  a  softened  expres- 
sion, silent  in  thought,  for  a  moment, 
then  he  untied  the  cord  on  his  own 
package,  opened  a  long,  white  box. 
He  took  out  a  pair  of  gleaming, 
brown,  leather  boots  with  handsome, 
black  heels. 

"I  think  they'll  just  about  fit  you," 
the  general  said.  "My  boy's  about 
your  size." 

The  young  Mexican  was  too  as- 
tonished even  to  say,  "Thanks."  He 
put  his  sore  feet  into  the  boots  and 
discovered  a  good  fit.  He  walked 
back  and  forth.  The  boots  were 
comfortable.  He  stood  in  front  of  a 
store  window  admiring  the  reflection. 
What  he  saw  made  him  look  proud 
as  a  decorated  soldier  over  the  gift 
which  was  originally  bought  for  some 
one  else. 

The  general  watched  silently,  his 
pleasure  mixed  with  restraint,  then 
he  left  and  hurried  on  in  a  brisk, 
military  manner.  When  he  returned 
to  camp,  the  other  officers  were  sur- 
prised to  see  a  contented  smile  on 
his  face. 


MUSIC 


(Concluded  from  page  680) 
Some  of  the  younger  musicians  in  the 
Church  may  be  interested  in  knowing 
that  the  general  music  committee  has 
been  an  active  organization  for  many 
years.  It  was  organized  under  the  di- 
rection of  President  Heber  J.  Grant  in 
September,  1920,  for  providing  a  gener- 
al supervisory  body  to  look  to  the  inter- 
ests of  music  matters  within  the 
Church.  The  members  of  the  commit- 
tee are  appointed  under  the  direction 
of  the  First  Presidency,  and  include 
some  of  the  ablest  musicians  and  eager 
Church  workers  that  may  be  found. 

The  work  of  the  committee  in  past 
years  has  included  the  compiling  and 


publishing  of  suitable  hymns  and 
anthems,  the  writing  of  instructional  ma- 
terial for  conductors  and  organists 
(material  which  has  been  published  in 
handbooks,  in  The  Improvement  Era, 
and  in  The  Deseret  News,)  the  prep- 
aration and  presentation  of  choir  festi- 
vals, the  providing  of  helps  for  conduc- 
tors and  organists  in  the  matter  of  hymn- 
singing,  and  the  conducting  of  Church- 
wide  training  classes  for  choristers  and 
organists.  Several  new  projects  are 
now  under  way,  to  be  announced  on  this 
page  as  they  develop.  It  is  hoped  that 
they  will  be  delightful  as  well  as  help- 
ful to  the  musicians  throughout  the 
Church. 


DLD  CHURCH 

BODES 

WANTED 

For  enlarging  its  library  of 
reference  works,  "THE  IM- 
PROVEMENT ERA"  is  inter- 
ested in  purchasing  copies  of 
earlier   Church  publications 

including 

THE  MILLENNIAL  STAR 

JOURNAL  OF  DISCOURSES 

TIMES  AND  SEASONS 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

and  other  significant  Church 
books 

Write  or  phone 

THE 

Improvement  Era 

SO  North  Main  Street 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

and   give    names,  dates,   volume 

numbers  and  conditions  of  books 

offered. 


YOUNG  WOMEN: 

Would  you  like  to  know 
where  to  secure  lodg- 
ings, or  what  the  points 
of  interest  are  when 
coming  to  Salt  Lake 
City?  Then  visit  the  in- 
formation center  of  the 
Church-operated  Lion 
House,  63  East  South 
Temple  Street,  where 
friendly  help  may  be 
found. 


729 


iHlelchizedelTPriestliood 


CONDUCTED  BY  THE  MELCHIZEDEK  PRIESTHOOD  COMMITTEE  OF    THE    COUNCIL    OF    THE    TWELVE JOSEPH    FIELDING    SMITH, 

CHAIRMAN;   JOHN  A.   WIDTSOE,   JOSEPH  F.  MERRILL,   CHARLES  A.  CALLIS,  SYLVESTER  Q.   CANNON,  AND  HAROLD  B.  LEE 


SialuL  QommiiissL 

HPhe  preliminary  exercises  of  the 
monthly  Priesthood  leadership 
meeting  should  be  so  planned  as  to 
leave  ample  time  for  the  standing  com- 
mittee sections  to  discuss  their  prob- 
lems. 

At  the  monthly  Priesthood  leader- 
ship meeting,  each  standing  committee 
section  should  devote  itself  to  reports 
of  the  work  of  the  preceding  month, 
and  plans  should  be  laid  for  the  coming 
month. 

The  study  course  is  the  same  for  all 
Priesthood  quorums  of  the  Church.  The 
study  outlines  published  in  the  Era 
should  be  gone  over  carefully  by  the 
class  instruction  section  to  secure  the 
best  class  presentation  of  the  material, 
to  determine  the  points  especially  to  be 
emphasized,  and  to  consider  possible 
questions  that  may  be  asked  by  the 
class. 

The  other  sections  (personal  wel- 
fare, church  service,  and  social  and 
miscellaneous)  should  make  similar  re- 
ports of  work  done;  and  should  plan 
for  the  coming  month's  work,  in  ac- 
cordance with  existing  quorum  needs. 
*      •     * 

Tt  is  inadvisable  to  hold  monthly  Priest- 
hood quorum  meetings  in  connection 
with  the  monthly  stake  officers'  meet- 
ings. Such  a  practice  usually  deprives 
the  stake  presidency,  members  of  the 
high  council,  bishops  and  numerous 
other  stake  and  ward  officers  from  at- 
tending their  Priesthood  quorum  meet- 
ings. All  bearers  of  the  Priesthood, 
whatever  their  administrative  offices 
may  be,  should  be  in  regular  attendance 
at  their  quorum  group  and  monthly 
meetings. 

When  the  monthly  stake  officers  and 
quorum  meetings  are  held  jointly,  the 
time  dedicated  to  the  monthly  quorum 
meetings  should  not  be  shortened  by  the 
interposition  of  stake  business,  belong- 
ing properly  to  the  stake  officer's  meet- 
ing, or  by  long  opening  exercises. 

Cince  the  quorum  presidency  are  the 
**"*  directing  officers,  they  have  the  re- 
sponsibility of  appointing  the  four 
standing  committees.  The  officers  must 
keep  in  close  touch  with  the  program 
because  each  one  acts  as  chairman  of  a 
committee.  Every  committee  member 
should  be  assigned  a  definite  respons- 
ibility. The  quorum  officers  will  hold 
weekly  meetings  wherein  detailed  plans 
will  be  made  for  furthering  the  inter- 
ests of  the  quorum. 

730 


To  assist  the  sections,  a  series  of 
themes  and  subjects  is  being  pre' 
pared  [or  the  use  of  each  standing 
committee  group  at  the  monthly 
Priesthood  leadership  meeting.  The 
publication  of  this  material  in  this  de- 
partment will  begin  not  later  than 
with  the  January  issue  of  the  "Era." 
This  series  of  suggestions  should 
only  supplement  the  consideration  of 
local  problems. 


Qiwuwl  Qui}* 


Who  are  the  Members  of  the  Stake 
Melchizedek  Priesthood  Committee? 

HPhe  stake  Melchizedek  Priesthood 
"7  committee  has  at  least  four  mem- 
bers, with  one  of  the  stake  presidency 
acting  as  chairman.  The  others  are  a 
high  priest,  a  seventy,  and  an  elder.  In 
large  stakes  a  representative  from  each 
of  the  Melchizedek  Priesthood  quor- 
ums in  the  stake  may  be  added  to  the 
committee.  From  one  to  three  mem- 
bers of  the  stake  high  council  should 
also  be  assigned  to  this  committee. 

(P&Ji&jwiaL  WsdfyohsL 

Chairman:  The  quorum  president 
Responsibility:  The   welfare   of   indi- 
vidual quorum  members 
Activities : 

1.  Labor  with  quorum  members  to 
induce  them  to  be  prayerful,  full 
tithe  payers,  observers  of  the 
Word  of  Wisdom,  observers  of 
the  Sabbath  day,  and  observers  of 
the  law  of  the  fast. 

2.  Keep  advised  as  to  the  physical 
health  of  each  quorum  member 
and  his  family,  and  where  neces- 
sary give  comfort  and  assistance. 
Where  quorum  member  is  away 
from  home,  definite  procedure 
should  be  adopted  to  keep  in  touch 
with  the  member  while  he  is  away, 
and  with  his  family,  if  it  is  at  home 
while  he  is  away. 

3.  Keep  advised  as  to  the  economic 
status  of  each  member  of  the  quor- 
um and  his  family. 

4.  Build  up  the  economic  status  of 
quorum  members  through  Church 
Welfare  activities. 

5.  The  chairman  should  attend  the 
weekly  ward  welfare  committee 
meetings. 

6.  This  committee  is  responsible  for 
the  direction  of  welfare  projects, 
both  the  projects  in  connection 
with  budget  assignments,  and  proj- 
ects for  the  benefit  of  the  quorum 
itself. 


Qlo&A.  QmJbojudtimL 

Chairman:  Counselor  in  quorum  presi- 
dency 

Responsibility:  To  see  that  the  gospel 
is  taught  to  every  quorum  member 

Activities : 

1.  See  that  quorum  or  group  is  sup- 
plied with  a  teacher  and  an  assis- 
tant who  can  teach 

2.  See  that  members  are  provided 
with: 

a.  The  published  course  of  study 

b.  The  Era  containing  the  lesson 
outline 

c.  Auxiliary  leaflets  and  manuals 

3.  See  that  the  class  is  provided  with 
outside  reference  material: 

a.  Current  topics 

b.  Bulletins 

c.  Quorum  library 

4.  Maintain  a  contact  with  gospel 
doctrine  class  of  the  Sunday 
School  and  every  other  auxiliary 
class  involving  members  of  the 
quorums. 

5.  See  that  the  physical  conditions 
of  the  class  room  are  favorable. 

6.  Visit  delinquent  members. 

a.  Urge  their  attendance  at  quor- 
um meetings. 

Chairman:  Counselor  in  quorum  presi- 
dency 

Responsibility :  To  promote  Church  ac- 
tivity of  quorum  members  in  consul- 
tation with  the  bishop  or  stake  presi- 
dent 

Activities: 

To   encourage   participation   in    the 

following : 

a.  Ward  teaching 

b.  Missionary  work 

c.  Genealogical  and  temple  work 

d.  Auxiliaries  (M.I. A.,  Sunday 
School,  etc.) 

e.  Ordinances  (administering  to  sick, 
ordinations,  baptisms,  confirma- 
tions, blessing  children,  etc.) 

f.  Choir  and  other  musical  activities 

g.  Other  stake  and  ward  assignments 

SoxdoL  S-OflUjcidtanwuSu 

Chairman:  Quorum  secretary  or  some- 
one else  appointed  by  the  quorum 
presidency 

Responsibility:  To  promote  quorum 
welfare  through  socials  and  miscel- 
laneous projects 

Activities : 

1.  Promote  athletic  events,  reunions, 
socials,  summer  outings. 

2.  Collect  quorum  funds. 

3.  Arrange     for     transportation     of 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,    1942 


quorum  members  to  quorum  func- 
tions. 

4.  Cooperate  with  wards  and  stakes 
on  dates  for  events. 

5.  Discharge  any  special  assignments 
including  welfare  projects  if  so 
authorized  by  the  quorum  presi- 
dency. 

TlobiSu  pVDML  JttliL  JMcL 

Cache  Stake  Reports  on  Projects 
Completed  During  Summer 

Logan  Third  Ward— High  Priests :  2 
acres  of  sugar  beets  (25  tons  valued  at 
$225.00);  Elders:  Supplied  100  pounds 
of  butter  to  the  storehouse  and  raised 
about  500  pounds  of  cabbage. 

Logan  Fourth  Ward — High  Priests: 
chapel  beautification  project;  Seventies 
and  Elders  one-third  acre  of  potatoes, 
proceeds  to  buy  butter  and  eggs. 

Logan  Fifth  Ward — High  Priests: 
donated  $75.00  cash,  raising  one  acre 
of  beans;  Seventies:  one  acre  of  pota- 
toes; Elders:  2  acres  of  corn  (sold 
$191.00  of  corn  on  the  cob,  gave  1,300 
dozen  ears  to  the  ward  and  now  have 
100  cases  of  corn  canned;  forty-five 
members  of  the  quorum  participated. ) 

Logan  Ninth  Ward — High  Priests: 
one-fourth  acre  pole  beans  sold  for 
$30.00,  one-eighth  acre  of  potatoes 
yielded  one  ton;  Seventies  and  Elders: 
10  cases  of  eggs;  Elders:  furnished 
storehouse  with  25  cases  of  beans,  and 
have  one-half  acre  of  potatoes. 

Logan  Tenth  Ward — High  Priests: 
250  pounds  of  beans  and  25  cases  of 
string  beans  delivered  to  the  storehouse; 
Seventies:  250  pounds  of  navy  beans- 
Elders:  200  pounds  of  navy  beans;  pre- 
sented each  quorum  member  who  has 
been  called  into  armed  service  with  a 
Book  of  Mormon,  Articles  of  Faith,  and 
a  song  tract. 

North  Logan  Ward — High  Priests 
and  Elders:  Raising  2,000  pounds  of 
navy  beans;  Seventies:  15  cases  of 
strawberries,  canned  and  delivered  to 
the  storehouse. 

Benson  Ward — 150  pounds  of  butter, 
6  cases  of  eggs. 

Hyde  Park  Ward — 2  acres  of  peas. 
314  acres  of  beets. 

Active  Committees  Are 
The  Life  of  the  Quorum 

Dear  Brethren: 

■\17e  are  pleased  to  hand  you  here- 
vv  with  a  report  of  the  Sixth  Elders 
Quorum,  (Osgood  Ward)  of  North 
Idaho  Falls  Stake,  covering  some  of 
their  many  activities.  Albert  V.  Rich- 
ards is  president  with  J.  P.  Allred  and 
John  Drolinger  counselors. 

This  presidency  have  the  four  stand- 
ing committees  fully  organized,  and 
each  committee  is  doing  its  job  well. 

A  few  years  ago  the  Church  service 
committee  took  over  all  the  ward  teach- 
ing of  the  Osgood  Ward  for  one  year, 
with  the  result  of  one  hundred  percent 
for  that  year. 

The  welfare  committee  is  most  out- 
standing.    On  several  occasions  where 


death,  sickness,  or  accident  have  en- 
tered a  member's  home  (or  the  home 
of  a  non-member  who  resides  in  the 
Osgood  Ward)  this  welfare  committee 
is  so  well-organized  that  the  quorum 
has  been  at  the  farm  before  sunset  the 
day  of  the  trouble,  putting  up  hay,  dig- 
ging potatoes  or  beets,  or  taking  care 
of  whatever  crops  needed  attention. 

When  they  cut  potatoes  for  the  El- 
ders' project  they  strung  lights  in  a 
large  potato  cellar,  and  the  Elders  with 
their  wives  and  children  came  out  one 
evening  and  did  this  job. 

The  class  instruction  committee  is 
doing  just  as  good  a  job  with  the  teach- 
ing as  the  other  committees  are  with 
their  work. 

They  hold  a  yearly  social  at  one  of 
the  nearby  canyons,  and  in  addition  to 
this  they  hold  a  monthly  meeting  and 
social  the  fourth  Thursday  of  each 
month  at  which  their  wives  take  a  very 
active  part.  We  as  a  stake  committee 
attended  one  of  these  last  winter  where 
each  lady  made  a  basket  lunch,  and  the 
baskets  were  auctioned  to  the  highest 
bidder  (with  a  ceiling  price  of  $2.00 
and  floor  price  of  $1.00).  This  put 
$23.75  in  the  quorum  fund  after  ex- 
penses were  paid.  The  quorum  pro- 
gresses so  fast  that  the  stake  committee 
can  hardly  keep  up  with  it. 

Stake  Elders  Committee, 
North  Idaho  Falls, 
by  Reuel  N.  Nielson. 


NO -LIQUOR -TOBACCO 
COLUMN 


Did  You  Act? 

Tn  August  a  letter  with  accompanying 
material  was  sent  to  every  stake 
chairman  asking  that  he  immediately 
inaugurate  in  his  stake  a  movement  to 
get  at  least  one  hundred  people  in  the 
stake  to  communicate  with  their  sen- 
ators and  representatives  in  Washing- 
ton and  ask  them  to  do  all  they  could 
to  get  enacted  into  law  Senate  Bill 
S.860.  This  is  the  Shepard  Bill,  pub- 
lished in  this  column  in  the  July  issue 
of  the  Era.  Therefore  all  who  read 
this  will  perhaps  have  read  the  Bill. 
But  as  a  reminder,  we  repeat  the  Bill 
proposes  to  re-enact  a  law,  made  by 
Congress  in  1917  when  the  United 
States  entered  the  first  World  War, 
which  prohibited  the  sale,  giving,  or 
possession  of  all  kinds  of  alcoholic  bev- 
erages in  all  places  where  the  boys  in 
our  armed  forces  live,  train  or  work. 

Did  you,  the  reader,  write  to  the  sen- 
ators and  representatives  from  your 
state  and  district?  Are  you  in  favor  of 
the  Bill  becoming  a  law?  If  so,  do  not 
fail  in  your  duty  to  our  boys  in  arms 
and  to  the  country.  If  you  have  not 
done  so,  write  your  letters  without  de- 
lay.   After  election  may  be  too  late. 

What  the  British  Say 

T^ulletins  From   Britain   is   a   weekly 
publication     sponsored    by    "The 


British  Information  Services,"  R.  C.  A. 
Building,  New  York  City.  In  the  issue 
of  August  26,  1942,  is  a  brief  article 
from  which  we  quote: 

"John  Bull's  menu  isn't  what  it  used 
to  be.  But  in  spite  of  war-time  rations 
he  doesn't  have  to  go  hungry  for  milk, 
vegetables  and  fish.  He's  drinking  more 
milk  and  raising  one  million  five  hun- 
dred thousand  more  tons  of  farm  vege- 
tables than  ever  before. 

But  his  health  has  never  been  better 
than  it  is  today — at  least  since  statistics 
were  first  available  seventy  years  ago." 
( Italics  ours. ) 

Alma  Richards — 

His  Record  and  Testimony 

Ctudents  of  the  Brigham  Young  Uni- 
^  versity  during  the  past  thirty  years, 
and  many  others  interested  in  athletics, 
will  remember  Alma  Richards — the  per- 
son or  the  name.  He  was  an  outstand- 
ing B.  Y.  U.  athlete,  achieving  a  na- 
tional and  an  international  reputation. 

From  letters  recently  received  from 
him  ( he  is  a  public  school  teacher,  living 
in  Los  Angeles)  we  learn  that  he  suc- 
cessfully competed  in  intercollegiate  na- 
tional and  international  athletics  during 
twenty-three  years  (1909-1932).  He 
went  to  Stockholm,  Sweden,  in  1912,  as 
a  member  of  the  American  team  to 
compete  in  the  Olympic  games,  and  won 
the  high  jump,  breaking  the  world's  rec- 
ord in  this  event.  He  won  the  decath- 
lon (ten  events)  at  the  World's  Fair 
in  San  Francisco  in  1915.  He  won 
national  championships  in  the  shot  put 
1918,  in  high  jumps  1913,  was  high  point 
man  in  the  American  Expeditionary 
Forces  after  the  War  in  France,  1919, 
receiving  a  medal  from  the  hands  of 
General  Pershing  stating  he  was  the 
greatest  athlete  in  the  A.  E.  F. 

During  his  career  he  won  hundreds 
of  other  medals.  In  fact,  sports  writers 
and  papers  have  said  he  won  more 
medals  than  any  other  man  in  the  world. 

But  now  to  the  point:  "I  told  the 
Lord"  (he  writes)  "that  if  He  would 
help  me  to  win  the  high  jumps  in  the 
Olympic  Games  at  Stockholm,  I  would 
do  my  best  to  be  a  good  boy  and  set 
a  good  example."  Further,  "Thirty 
years  ago  when  I  was  offered  $1,000  by 
a  large  tobacco  concern  to  allow  my 
name  to  be  used  to  advertise  their  prod- 
uct, it  was  no  temptation  whatever. 
Many  times  I  had  needed  money  badly 
■ — yet  not  that  much." 

Alma  Richards  is  a  modest,  thorough- 
ly honest  man  who  attributes  his  ath- 
letic successes  and  moral  strength  to 
parental  teachings,  keeping  the  Word 
of  Wisdom,  and  prayer.  He  has  always 
believed  that  liquor  and  tobacco  are  not 
good  for  man — a  truth  revealed  to  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith  in  1833.  Alma 
Richards  has  set  an  example  of  moral 
courage,  fidelity  to  parental  teachings, 
and  faithfulness  in  keeping  the  com- 
mandments of  the  Lord,  worthy  of  imi- 
tation by  every  boy  in  the  Church. 

731 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


Melchizedek  Priesthood 
Outline  of  Study,  December,  1942 

Text:  Teachings  of  the  Prophet 
Joseph  Smith 

LESSON  38 

Education  and  Intelligence  (Continued) 

3.  The  glory  of  God  is  intelligence   (D. 
&  C.  93:36) 

a.  God  is  perfect  intelligence  (55) 

b.  His  wisdom  alone  sufficient  to  gov- 
ern and  regulate  the  mighty  cre- 
ation 

c.  Truth  is  knowledge  of  things  as 
they  are,  and  as  they  were,  and  as 
they  are  to  come  (D.  &  C.  93:24) 

d.  Ye  are  little  children  and  ye  cannot 
bear  all  things  now;  ye  must  grow 
in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of 
the  truth  (297;  D.  6  C.  50:40) 

e.  He  that  keepeth  His  commandments 
receiveth  truth  and  light  until  he  is 
glorified  in  truth  and  knoweth  all 
things  (93:28) 

f.  Exalted  persons  may  have  one  glory 
upon  another   (354) 

g.  Without  knowledge  we  cannot  be 
saved   (217) 

( 1 )  A  man  is  saved  no  faster  than 
he  gains  knowledge  (217,  297) 

(2)  Without  it  he  will  be  captive 
to  some  evil  power  having 
more  knowledge 

(3)  Impossible  for  a  man  to  be 
saved  in  ignorance  (301) 

(4)  Ignorance,  superstition  and 
bigotry     retard     the     Church 

™     (138> 
h.  The  power  of  true  doctrine  (341) 

i.  Necessary  for  us  to  have  an  under- 
standing of  God  himself  (343) 

j.  We  ought  to  study  night  and  day 
the  purpose  of  our  existence  (324) 

k.  Add  to  faith  virtue,  to  virtue  knowl- 
edge, and  seek  every  good  thinq 
(217) 

1.  Superior  intelligence  bestowed  up- 
on such  as  obey  the  gospel  (67) 

m.  President  Joseph  F.  Smith  on  in- 
telligence— The    Way    to    Pecfec' 
Hon,  p.  230-231 
Discuss: 

1.  In  what  definite  way  are  faith  and 
the  holy  Spirit  aids  in  the  quest  of  true 
knowledge? 

2.  What  truths  should  the  Latter-day 
Saint  include  in  his  studies? 

LESSON  39 

Revelation 

Read  Teachings  of  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith,  pp.  11-13,  21,  53-54,  61,  71,  109,  111, 
138,  151,  160-161,  191,  205,  206,  214,  215, 
269,  272,  304,  321,  325,  328,  355;  D.  &  C. 
8:3;  9:7-9;  28:2,  7;  42:14,  61;  43:2-5;  3 
Nephi  29:6;  Moroni  10:4. 

1.  Why  revelation  is  given 

a.  To  declare  God's  will  concerning 
the  human  family  (54) 

b.  To  give  them  just  and  holy  laws  to 
regulate  their  conduct 

c.  To  guide  them  in  a  direct  way  that 
He  might  make  them  joint  heirs  with 
His  Son 

d.  Modern  revelation  needed  to  suit 
present  conditions  (71) 

(1)  We  are  differently  situated 
from  any  other  people  that  ever 
existed  upon  this  earth 

(2)  Former  revelations  to  other 
people  not  sufficient  for  needs 
of  today 

(3)  Need  for  gathering  to  a  place 
of  deliverance  to  escape  deso- 
lation 

732 


e.  Much  instruction  formerly  given  to 
man  which  we  do  not  possess  now 
(61) 

( 1 )  Bible  contains  a  portion  of 
God's  word  to  his  ancient  Saints 

(2)  Nowhere  said  by  the  mouth  of 
God  in  the  Bible  that  He  would 
not  speak  again 

f.  The  light  of  revelation  unlocks  the 
truths  of  the  scriptures  (304) 

g.  Gives  knowledge  upon  knowledge, 
which  bringeth  joy  and  life  eternal 
(D.  &  C.  42:61) 

( 1 )  Salvation  cannot  come  with- 
out revelation  (160) 

(2)  Without  revelation  we  can 
neither  know  nor  understand 
anything  of  God  or  the  devil 
(205) 

(3)  Without  it  we  cannot  detect 
false  from  true  manifestations 
(206) 

(4)  Makes  known  the  true  object 
of  existence  (324) 

(5)  Shows  that  the  riches  of  etern- 
ity are  within  the  compass  of 
the  obedient  (11) 

(6)  Enables  us  to  see  and  know 
for  ourselves  (13) 

Discuss: 

1.  Cite  instances  to  demonstrate  the  need 
for  modern  revelation  to  meet  needs  of  our 
day. 

LESSON  40 

Revelation  ( Continued) 

2.  Revelation  continuous 

a.  Continuous  revelation  needed  (3 
Nephi  29:6) 

( 1 )  No  man  can  be  a  minister  of 
Jesus  Christ  except  he  has  the 
testimony  of  Jesus  (160) 

(2)  The  testimony  of  Jesus  is  the 
spirit  of  prophecy  (269) 

(3)  A  true  teacher  and  witness 
must  possess  the  spirit  of  proph- 
ecy  (269) 

(4)  If  ye  receive  not  the  Spirit  ye 
shall  not  teach  ( D.  &  C.  42 : 1 4 ) 

(5)  If  we  have  not  the  oracles  of 
God,  we  are  not  the  people  of 
God  (272) 

b.  Search  the  revelations  and  observe 
them 

( 1 )  Search  the  revelations  of  God; 
study  the  prophecies,  and  re- 
joice that  God  grants  unto  the 
world  Seers  and  Prophets  (12) 

( 2 )  Transcripts  from  the  records  of 
the  eternal  world  (11) 

(3)  Sacred  writings  given  by  di- 
rect inspiration  for  the  good  of 
man  (53) 

(4)  Our  obligation  to  live  in  ac- 
cordance with  their  precepts 
(54) 

(5)  Will  of  heaven  will  benefit  us 
only  if  we  comply  with  it 

(6)  Things  hid  from  foundation  of 
world  revealed  in  last  days 
(321) 

3.  By  whom  revelation  is  received 
a.  Revelations  to  the  Church 

( 1 )  President  of  the  Church  a  seer, 
a  revelator,  a  translator,  and  a 
prophet,  having  all  the  gifts  of 
God  which  he  bestows  upon  the 
Church  (D.  &  C.  107:92) 

(2)  It  is  the  order  of  heaven  for 
revelations  of  the  mind  and  will 
of  God  to  the  Church  to  come 
through  the  presidency   (111) 

(3)  No  one  except  the  President  of 
the  Church  to  receive  revela- 
tions   and   commandments    for 


the  Church  (215;  D.  &  C.  28:2, 
7) 

(4)  None  other  appointed  to  re- 
ceive them  until  he  be  taken,  if 
he  abide  in  me  ( D.  &  C.  43 : 2-3 ) 

(5)  A  law  of  the  Church  (verse  5) 

(6)  The  twelve  apostles  sustained 
as  prophets,  seers  and  revela- 
tors,  and  special  witnesses 
(109) 

b.  Revelation  to  guide  officers 

( 1 )  Privilege  of  any  officer  in  this 
Church  to  obtain  revelations, 
so  far  as  relates  to  his  particu- 
lar calling  and  duty  in  the 
Church  (111) 

(2)  Contrary  to  economy  of  God 
for  any  member,  or  any  one,  to 
receive  instruction  for  those  in 
authority,  higher  than  them- 
selves  (21) 

c.  Individual  revelation 

( 1 )  If  any  person  have  a  vision  or 
a  visitation  from  a  heavenly 
messenger,  it  must  be  for  his 
own  benefit  and  instruction 
(21) 

(2)  Personal  testimony  received 
through  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Ghost   (11,  13) 

(a)  Each  may  know  for  him- 
self 

(b)  Not  dependent  on  man  for 
knowledge  of  God 

4.  How  revelations  are  received 

a.  The  Holy  Ghost  is  a  revelator  (328) 

( 1 )  No  man  can  receive  the  Holy 
Ghost  without  receiving  revela- 
tions 

(2)  Intimation  of  the  spirit  of  reve- 
lation (151) 

(a)  Feel  pure  intelligence  flow- 
ing into  you 

(b)  Sudden  strokes  of  ideas  of 
things  soon  to  be  fulfilled 

(c)  Presented  unto  your  mind 
by  the  Spirit  of  God 

(d)  By  learning  to  understand 
the  Spirit  of  God  you  may 
grow  into  the  spirit  of 
revelation 

(e)  The  Holy  Ghost — this  is 
the  spirit  of  revelation  (D. 
&  C.  8:3) 

(3)  Must  exercise  thought  and 
study  (D.  &  C.  9:7-9) 

(4)  Given  in  response  to  fervent 
prayer  and  faith  (138) 

(5)  Best  way  to  obtain  truth  and 
wisdom  is  not  to  ask  from 
books,  but  to  go  to  God  in 
prayer,  and  obtain  divine  teach- 
ing  (191) 

( 6 )  True  doctrine  given  the  Proph- 
et by  the  revelations  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  by  inspiration  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  (355) 

(7)  A  time  to  come  in  which  noth- 
ing shall  be  withheld  (138) 

(8)  Eternal  truth  known  through 
the  revelations  of  God  in  the 
way  of  His  ordinances,  and  in 
answer  to  prayer  (325) 

Discuss: 

1.  How  may  each  member  of  the  Church 
receive  a  certain  testimony  of  the  truth? 

2.  Explain  the  significance  of  the  follow- 
ing words  of  the  Prophet:  "Search  the  scrip- 
tures— search  the  revelations  which  we  pub- 
lish, and  ask  your  Heavenly  Father  in  the 
name  of  His  Son  Jesus  Christ,  to  manifest 
the  truth  unto  you.  .  .  .  You  will  not 
then  be  dependent  on  man  for  the  knowledge 
of  God;  nor  will  there  be  any  room  for  spec- 
ulation" (11)  Cf.  Moroni's  promise  (Mor- 
oni 10:4) 


*KF^ 


■BoronlcTteffiood 


CONDUCTED  UNDER  THE  SUPERVISION   OF  THE  PRESIDING   BISHOPRIC.      EDITED  BY  LEE  A.   PALMER. 


THE  AARONIC  PRIESTHOOD 

Thirty-second  in  a  series  o/  articles 
written  by  the  late  Elder  Orson  F. 
Whitney  of  the  Council  of  the 
Twelve.  Published  originally  in 
"The  Contributor." 

/^\N  April  6,  1841,  the  Saints  in  Phila- 
^^  delphia  were  organized  into  a 
Stake,  with  Jacob  Syphret  as  Bishop, 
and  Jesse  Prince  and  James  Nicholson 
as  his  Counselors.  On  April  15th  the 
Saints  in  New  York  City  were  organ- 
ized, with  John  M.  Bernhisel  as  Bishop, 
and  Richard  Burge  and  William  Acker 
as  his  Counselors.  And  on  May  22nd 
the  Saints  remaining  in  Kirtland  were 
given  a  Stake  organization,  in  which 
Thomas  Burdick  was  Bishop,  with  Hy- 
rum  Winters  and  Reuben  McBride  as 
his  Counselors.  Doubtless  there  were 
other  Stakes  and  branches  besides 
those,  but  the  above  will  suffice  to  show 
the  spread  of  the  gospel,  and  the  strong 
impetus  given  to  the  cause  of  Zion  by 
the  Missouri  and  Ohio  persecutions. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  May,  1840, 
Bishop  Edward  Partridge  died  at  Nau- 
voo,  in  the  forty-seventh  year  of  his 
age.  On  the  nineteenth  of  January, 
1841,  George  Miller  was  chosen  by  the 
voice  of  revelation  to  succeed  him  in 
the  Bishopric.  In  the  same  revelation 
occurs  this  paragraph:  "And  again,  I 
say  unto  you,  I  give  unto  you  Vinson 
Knight,  Samuel  H.  Smith  and  Shadrach 
Roundy,  if  he  will  receive  it,  to  preside 
over  the  bishopric."  These  were  the 
first  nominations  made  for  the  Presiding 
Bishopric,  but  if  the  brethren  named 
ever  acted  in  that  capacity,  the  fact  is 
not  recorded  in  the  Prophet's  history. 
Bishop  Vinson  Knight  died  at  Nau- 
voo,  on  July  31,  1842. 

(To  be  continued) 


PRIESTS',  TEACHERS',  AND  DEACONS'  QUORUMS,  WINDER 

WARD,  BIG  COTTONWOOD  STAKE,  HAVE  100% 

STANDARD  QUORUM  AWARD  GOAL 


These  priests,  under  the  close  supervision  of  Bishop  Claude  I.  Ashton,  are  putting  forth  every 
effort  to  qualify  for  the  Standard  Quorum  Award  for  1942.  They  are  working  hard  to  overcome 
the  inroads  into  the  priests'  age  group,  incident  to  the  present  national  emergency. 


The  first  and  second  quorums  of  teachers  began  early  in  the  year  to  establish  Standard  Quorum 
Award  records.  The  first  nine  months'  activities  indicate  that  both  quorums  will  qualify.  H. 
Peery  Heninger,  first  counselor  to  Bishop  Ashton,  in  charge  of  teachers,  together  with  quorum 
advisers  John   Davis  and   Francis  W.  Schaelling,  are  included   in  the  photograph. 


Two  of  the  ahove  three  quorums  of  deacons  qualified  for  the  Standard  Quorum 
Award  for  1941.     They  will  qualify  one  hundred  percent  for  1942. 

Douglas  B.  Cutler,  second  counselor  to  Bishop  Ashton  at  the  time  the 
photograph  was  taken,   is  shown   in  the  photograph,  together  with   quorum  advisers 


Victor  Spencer,   LaMar  Poulton,   and   Blaine  Eustice. 

Rex  C.  Reeve,  chairman  of  the  Winder  Ward  Aaronic  Priesthood  Committee 
at  the  time  these  photographs  were  taken,  is  now  bishop  of  the  new  Valley  View 
Ward,  Big  Cottonwood  Stake. 

733 


-  -  lllnril  Icnclnnn 


CONDUCTED  UNDER   THE  SUPERVISION  OF  THE  PRESIDING   BISHOPRIC.      EDITED  BY   LEE  A.   PALMER. 

Owdnq.  (b&xjumbsVi, 


'T'he  Message  of  the  First  Presidency, 
delivered  in  the  Salt  Lake  Taber- 
nacle, October  3,  1942,  is  to  be  dis- 
tributed by  the  ward  teachers  during  the 
month  of  December. 

Teachers  could  scarcely  be  called 
upon  to  fulfill  any  assignment  of  more 
importance  in  the  line  of  their  duty.  In- 
structions given  by  the  First  Presidency 
bespeak  the  mind  and  will  of  the  Lord 
to  His  people.  How  fortunate  we  are  as 
a  people  that,  in  the  midst  of  unpreced- 
ented world  conditions,  we  can  listen  to 
the  voices  of  prophets,  seers,  and  re- 
velators,  and  be  strengthened  by  their 
words  of  comfort  and  guided  by  their 
counsel. 

Teachers  Should  Study  Message 

While  it  is  not  presumed  that  the 
ward  teachers  should  attempt  to  explain 
734 


THE  FIRST  PRESIDENCY 

the  Message  of  the  First  Presidency,  it 
is  urged  that  they  study  the  text  and  be 
familiar  therewith.  Their  knowledge  of 
the  message  will  contribute  to  their  en- 
thusiastic proposal  of  its  careful  read- 
ing and  study  in  the  homes. 

It  is  not  intended  that  ward  teachers 
shall  debate  any  features  of  the  message 
with  those  who  have  personal  opinions 
which  may  be  at  variance  with  those 
presented.  The  instructions  of  the  First 
Presidency  are  the  inspired  word  of  the 
Lord  and  will  be  accepted  as  such  by 
those  who  look  to  Him  for  guidance  in 
the  way  of  life. 

Pamphlets  Will  Be  Mailed  Direct 
To  Ward  Bishops 

Pamphlets  will  be  mailed  direct  to 
ward  bishops  instead  of  stake  clerks. 
This  variation  in  procedure  will  main- 


tain for  the  month  of  December  only. 
Each  bishop  will  be  sent  a  sufficient 
number  of  pamphlets  for  distribution  to 
each  Latter-day  Saint  family  on  record 
in  his  ward. 

This  assignment  provides  an  excel- 
lent opportunity  for  the  conduct  of  an 
all-out  ward  teaching  campaign  during 
the  month  of  December.  Bishops  are 
urged  to  look  to  their  ward  teaching  or- 
ganization and  personnel  with  a  view  to 
filling  vacancies  and  making  full  pre- 
parations to  insure  the  success  of  this 
undertaking. 

Missions  To  Be  Supplied 

For  the  information  of  mission  presi- 
dents, a  sufficient  supply  of  the  pam- 
phlets will  be  sent  to  each  mission  office 
at  the  same  time  shipment  is  made  to 
wards. 


5^ 


■ffintuaTHlessaqes 


=3^ 


SfiCutiVes 


stood  and  are  to  be  in  force  in  every 
dance  the  ward  or  stake  shall  hold.  The 
dance  manager  might  quiz  the  execu- 
tives, or  one  of  the  executives  might 
quiz  all  the  others  in  order  to  be  sure 
that  the  understanding  of  standards 
and  policies  is  complete. 


Remember  Your  Calendar 

/^\n    November    3rd,   your    assembly 

*"*  program  should  be  a  one-act  play 

from  the  Book  of  Plays.    Is  it  ready? 

Have  enough  rehearsals  taken  place  so      &  Special  Committee  for 

that  the  actors  will  not  only  know  their      Contact  Work 

parts,  but  give  an  artistic  presentation? 


Valley  in  1849,  two  years  after  the  Pio- 
neers arrived  there. 

At  Palm  Canyon,  a  section  of  beau- 
tiful Presidio  Park  (endeared  to  Mor- 
mons because  the  Mormon  Battalion 
Monument  is  erected  there ) ,  approxi- 
mately five  hundred  Latter-day  Saints 


All  must  cooperate,  if  dancing,  which      gathered  early  in  the  evening  to  witness 


has  been  such  a  lovely  part  of  our  ac- 
tivities, is  to  make  progress. 


On  November  10th,  your  depart- 
ments have  their  recreational  period. 
Have  you  checked  with  them  as  to  the 
progress  and  preparation  so  that  this 
half  hour  will  be  delightful  and  en- 
couraging to  membership  efforts? 

November  17th,  the  assembly  is  a 
story.  "Peace  Over  Camp,"  or  some 
other  good  Thanksgiving  story  will  not 
only  give  the  storyteller  a  fine  oppor- 
tunity to  show  his  art,  but  will  also, 
if  done  well,  increase  the  appreciation 
of  stories  by  the  group. 

November  24th  is  the  social  hour  of 
dancing.  See  to  it  that  your  music  is 
good.  Rehearse  it  beforehand,  if  it  is 
mechanical,  so  that  you  know  what 
records  sound  best  in  your  hall. 

Class  Work 

Class  work  should  be  well  under 
way  now. 


The  presidents  of  the  ward  Mutual 
organizations  have  been  asked  to  form 
a  committee  according  to  the  needs  of 
the  ward,  to  make  contacts  with  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  who  have  moved  in 
and  have  not  yet  fully  affiliated  them- 
selves with  ward  activities.  In  some 
cases,  families  have  migrated  from  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  Church  to  the  cen- 
ters where  work  has  become  plentiful. 
In  many  other  cases,  young  men  and 
women  have  come  away  from  home 
alone.  In  the  latter  case,  particularly, 
their  situation  is  perilous  if  they  do  not 
take  part  fully  in  the  Church  activities. 
Sometimes  swing  shifts  and  Sunday 
work  interfere  with  regular  Church- 
going  habits,  but  nothing  need  prevent 
their  doing  all  possible  to  keep  the  as- 
sociation of  the  Saints  and  absorb 
through  the  sacrament  and  the  various 


If  you  executives  will  visit      me^in9s'  the  spirit  of  the  gospel 


classes  as  a  regular  habit,  you  can  know 
the  effectiveness  of  your  teaching  staff 
and  suggest  ways  of  building  interest 
and  attendance. 

Opportunity  Night 

Lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  fine  effort 
of  your  M  Men  and  Gleaners  to  get 
distributed  the  "I  Dare  You"  pamphlet. 
They  have  a  wonderful  project. 

Quiz  the  Dance  Committee 

Executives  of  wards  and  stakes  have 
already  received  the  pamphlet  "A  Call 
For  Dance  Managers."  Serious  study 
of  its  contents,  including  the  restate- 
ment of  standards,  is  a  duty  we  believe 
all  will  fulfill.  The  General  Authorities 
are  concerned  deeply  with  the  dance 
situation,  and  have  urged  us  as  the  or- 
ganization responsible  for  the  recrea- 
tion of  the  Church,  to  complete  the 
committees  of  dance  manager  and  in- 
structors in  every  unit  of  the  Church. 

The  appointment  is  only  the  start. 
Executives  should  see  that  the  dance 
manager  is  given  full  support  in  the 
arduous  responsibility,  and  that  the 
dance  instructors  are  permitted  to 
make  arrangements  for  the  practices  so      Ploneer  DaY  Celebration 


The  committee  is  called  on  to  work 
in  harmony  with  the  Gleaner  member- 
ship group  and  any  other  departments 
of  the  M.  I.  A.,  with  other  auxiliaries, 
and  particularly  under  the  direction  of 
the  bishop  of  the  ward,  and  in  harmony 
with  agencies  he  may  set  up.  This  com- 
mittee should  prayerfully,  energetical- 
ly, intelligently,  and  gracefully  work 
among  those  who  have  come  to  live 
among  us,  to  induce  them  to  come  to 
Mutual  and  participate  in  the  activities 
thereof. 

Y.  W.  M.  I.  A.  Receives 
New  General  Secretary 

TL-Telena  W.  Larson  has  been  ap- 
A  pointed  general  secretary  of  the 
Young  Women's  Mutual  Improvement 
Association  to  succeed  Erma  Roland, 
who  resigned  upon  her  marriage  to 
Stringam  A.  Stevens. 

Sister  Larson,  a  graduate  from  the 
University  of  Utah,  has  filled  a  mission 
in  the  Northern  States  Mission.  She 
has  been  a  member  of  the  general  board 
since  1937. 


San  Diego  Stake 


necessary  to  teach  our  young  people 
proper  and  pleasurable  dances.  Imme- 
diately the  executives  should  call  the 
dance  manager  in  with  his  committee 
and  in  an  informal  study  assure  them- 
selves that  all  the  standards  are  under- 


The  San  Diego  Stake  M.  I.  A.,  re- 
peating its  splendid  effort  of  last  year 
sponsored  a  July  24  celebration  dupli- 
cating as  nearly  as  possible  many  of 
the  events  of  the  first  twenty-fourth  of 
July  commemoration  held  in  Salt  Lake 


the  pageantry,  participate  in  the  sing- 
ing, and  enjoy  a  delicious  meal.  Climax 
of  the  day  was  a  dance  held  in  the  stake 
recreation  hall.  Members  of  San  Diego 
Stake  left  this  celebration,  as  did  the 
pioneers  of  1849,  with  hearts  filled  with 
thanksgiving  for  their  blessings. 

The  pageant,  a  copy  of  which  has 
been  placed  on  file  at  M.  I.  A.  head- 
quarters, was  written  by  Josie  B.  Bay. 

— From  a  report  submitted  by 
Kenneth  Calder,  Superintendent 
Y,  M.  M.  I.  A. 

Deseret  Theatre 
Begins  Season 

rpHE  Deseret  Theatre,  little  theatre 
A  group,  formerly  known  as  the  Inter- 
stake  Drama  Organization,  began  its 
winter  season  in  Salt  Lake  the  week  of 
October  26  with  the  comedy  "George 
Washington  Slept  Here."  Three  night- 
ly performances  were  for  the  U.S.O., 
and  three  for  the  general  public.  The 
play  was  directed  by  Donald  B.  Alder. 

Special  Interest 

-c-0^— — 

Leading  Articles  for 
Current  Study 

JI^any  unusually  good  articles,  ap- 
propriate for  study  among  our 
groups,  are  found  in  current  issues  of 
our  own  and  other  leading  periodicals. 
One  stimulating  discussion  could  be 
held  on  the  article  that  appeared  in 
the  October  Era,  page  624 — "What 
Others  Think  of  the  Mormons."  By 
analyzing  the  good  and  bad  character- 
istics as  seen  by  those  not  of  us,  we 
can  perhaps  come  to  a  fuller  under- 
standing of  what  we  need  to  do  in  order 
to  overcome  our  faults  and  cling  tighter 
to  our  virtues. 

An  interesting  series  on  Sam  Bran- 
nan  also  began  in  the  same  issue,  page 
620.  These  articles  will  prove  most 
stimulating  to  those  groups  which  have 
interested  themselves  in  Church  his- 
tory. 

From  the  Reader's  Digest  for  Sep- 
tember, Special  Interest  groups  may 
like  to  study  "They  Were  Expend- 
able." Since  this  war  has  been  called  a 
total  war,  we  must  learn  the  full  im- 
plication of  the  words.  For  a  like 
reason,  the  article  "The  Russian  Bat- 
tlefront**  will  be  a  good  one  to  dis- 
cuss. Two  articles  that  will  also  give 
{Continued  on  page  736) 
735 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


{Continued  from  page  735) 
needed  information  on  the  war  situa- 
tion appeared  in  The  Saturday  Eve- 
ning Post  of  September  26,  and  are  en- 
titled "I  Saw  Manila  Die"  and  "Hitler 
Can't  Do  Business  with  the  Church." 

In  the  Science  News  Letter  of  Sep- 
tember 26  will  be  found  many  items 
which  would  lead  to  interesting  dis- 
cussion of  the  current  world  picture. 

Since  the  world  is  changing  so  rapid- 
ly, Special  Interest  groups  will  need  to 
keep  alert  to  those  worth-while  articles 
which  will  help  all  of  us  adjust  to  this 
changing  world. 

IllllleSJiean^ 


I  Dare  You  To  Be  Strong 

T^'his  is  the  subject  for  the  first  Op- 
■*■  portunity  Night  of  the  season,  No- 
vember 10th,  in  the  M  Men-Gleaner 
department.  War  has  ever  called  for 
courage,  and  the  challenge  given  out 
this  year  by  the  M  Men  and  Gleaners, 
to  be  clean,  to  be  strong,  to  speak  well, 
and  to  participate  in  defense,  fits  the 
times. 

A  unique  and  interesting  idea  has 
been  put  into  effect  by  the  supplying  to 
the  members  of  the  department  ten 
thousand  little  booklets.  These  bear 
the  title  of  the  reading  course  book  by 
William  H.  Danforth,  I  Dare  You.  It 
is  with  the  author's  permission  that 
the  pamphlet  goes  out  thus. 

It  is  built  on  the  stirring  thought  that 
today  our  youth  constitutes  a  group  of 
New  Pioneers  on  the  March,  a  march 
to  the  winning  among  Latter-day  Saints 
of  the  prevalence  of  the  clean  life.  It 
carries  on  the  great  idea  of  the  taber- 
nacle meeting,  June,  1941,  when  the  as- 
sembled youth  of  the  Church  presented 
a  program  of  national  scope,  a  battle 
against  the  use  of  tobacco,  alcoholic 
drinks,  and  improper  attitudes  and 
practices  touching  morals.  This  was 
their  plea  for  the  clean  life,  and  to  it 
they  pledged  their  loyalty. 

The  essential  sentence  of  the  pamph- 
let is:  "You  will  do  your  part.  Wheth- 
er on  land,  on  the  sea,  or  in  the  air; 
whether  in  home,  office,  shop,  or  regi- 
ment, you  will  not  be  afraid  to  live 
and  share  your  ideals." 

The  unique  phase  of  the  project  is 
that  it  is  in  very  truth  a  challenge,  a 
dare.  On  a  page  at  the  back  is  a  place 
for  five  signatures.  Following  the  prin- 
ciple of  the  chain  letter,  it  will  go  from 
one  to  another  and  after  five  have 
signed — and  we  hope  an  average  of  at 
least  ten  have  read  it — it  will  come 
back  to  the  person  who  sent  it  out  first. 

Each  one  who  signs  his  name  to  the 
precious  little  book,  indicates  that  he 
truly  accepts  the  challenge  "to  take 
your  place  in  the  foreranks,  to  live,  ex- 
emplify, and  teach  our  Latter-day  Saint 
standards." 

Before  this,  doubtless  the  pamphlets 
have  been  sent  to  the  wards  by  the 
stake  executives,  and  the  class  leaders 

736 


have  had  the  class  officers  in  consulta- 
tion to  plan  the  distribution,  reading, 
and  passing  on  of  the  individual 
pamphlets. 

November  10th  will  truly  be  an 
Opportunity  night. 

Gleaner  Notes 

We  hope  all  of  the  new  Gleaners 
have  become  acquainted  with  the 
Gleaner  Sheaf  which  is  printed  on 
page  199  of  our  Manual  and  that  they 
have  resolved  within  their  hearts  to 
strive  each  day  to  make  this  their  code 
of  living. 

While  the  M  Men  are  receiving  val- 
uable and  technical  training  and  are 
fighting  for  the  ideals  we  cherish,  our 
Gleaners  will  do  well  to  meet  the  chal- 
lenge here  at  home.  Discuss  with  them 
the  suggestions  given  on  pages  214,  215 
of  the  Manual — "Gleaners  in  a  Time 
of  Conflict,"  and  formulate  plans  to 
do  your  bit. 

More  than  ever  before  will  we,  as 
Gleaner  leaders,  need  the  help  and  in- 
spiration that  comes  to  us  through  seek- 
ing guidance  from  our  Father  in 
heaven. 

"A  Teacher's  Prayer,"  the  author  of 
which  is  unknown,  might  well  be  the 
prayer  of  every  Gleaner  Leader: 

I  would  pray  that  my  heart  may  be  open 
to  receive  inspiration  from  my  Heavenly 
Father.  I  desire  humility,  wisdom,  and 
strength.  I  would  know  my  own  weaknes- 
ses and  have  power  to  overcome  them.  I 
seek  ability  to  read,  reason,  think,  and  ob- 
serve, so  that  I  may  never  go  before  my 
girls  unprepared.  I  pray  for  understanding 
that  I  may  reach  the  hearts  of  my  girls.  I 
need  tolerance  and  love  that  I  may  find  the 
way  and  lead  their  souls  to  God.  Bless  me 
in  my  task. 


fi$P>is 


Explorers  and  the  M.  I.  A.    • 

"Pxplorers  are  members  of  the  Y.  M. 
*-*  M.  I.  A.  When  they  become  affili- 
ated with  any  M.  I.  A.  sponsored  troop, 
they  are  automatically  enrolled  in  the 
Y.  M.  M.  I.  A.  Every  Explorer  leader 
is  an  officer  of  the  ward  organization, 
appointed  by  the  ward  bishop  and  as- 
signed to  serve  under  the  supervision 
of  the  ward  president  of  Y.  M.  M.  I. 
A.  This  brief  statement  seems  neces- 
sary because  occasionally  a  leader  ap- 
parently feels  that  he  has  no  obliga- 
tion toward  his  sponsor  the  Y.  M.  M. 
I.  A.  As  a  result,  when  calls  are  made 
by  drama  and  music  directors  and  other 
officers  for  assistance  from  members  of 
the  Explorer  troop,  vociferous  protests 
are  made  for  disrupting  the  department 
program. 

The  Explorer  leader  should  recog- 
nize the  cultural  activities  as  opportuni- 
ties for  growth  and  development  for 
his  boys.  Many  boys  of  this  age  group 
are  eager  to  try  out  for  a  play  or  sing 
in  a  chorus  or  participate  in  some  other 
general  M.  I.  A.  activity.  The  Explorer 


committee  sees  no  objection  to  such  ac- 
tivity, but  on  the  contrary  feels  in- 
clined to  urge  leaders  to  encourage 
members  of  their  troops  to  participate 
in  these  activities  as  much  as  possible. 
A  frequent  criticism  is  to  the  effect  that 
other  officers  often  call  for  Explorers 
without  ample  notice.  Objections  to 
such  a  procedure  may  be  justified,  but 
the  leader  many  times  can  prevent  in- 
convenience in  the  operation  of  his 
program  by  anticipating  such  requests 
beforehand.  Regular  attendance  of  the 
leader  at  ward  officer  meetings  will 
often  entirely  remove  this  common  ob- 
jection. It  is  suggested,  therefore,  that 
instead  of  attempting  to  prevent  the 
participation  of  Explorers  in  other  M. 
I.  A.  activities  the  cultural  arts  be  con- 
sidered a  part  of  the  Explorer  program 
and  the  various  directors  as  technical 
assistants  to  the  Explorer  leader. 

Simplifying  the  Explorer  Program 

At  a  time  when  essentials  only  can 
be  considered,  Explorer  leaders  should 
be  concerned  about  emphasizing  the 
fundamental  features  of  the  program. 
The  following  suggestive  basic  objec- 
tives are  offered  as  guides  in  building 
a  program  for  the  coming  year.  Explan- 
atory material  and  methods  may  be 
found  in  Log  No.  10  and  the  Supple- 
ment. 

1 .  Athletics.  Organize  a  team  in  the  troop 
and  participate  in  district  tournament 
in  any  or  all  of  the  following  sports: 
vanball,  basketball,  Softball. 

2.  Social  activities.  Carry  out  the  five- 
point  Explorer-Junior  program  con- 
sisting of:  get-acquainted  party — Oc- 
tober; ward  dancing  party — Decem- 
ber; one-act  play — February;  spring 
social — April;  summeree — June. 

3.  Advancement.  Promote  first  honors, 
a  title,  and  Arrowhead  award. 

4.  Emergency  service.  Select  only  one 
simple,  essential  wartime  activity  and 
carry  through  efficiently. 

5.  Troop  meetings.  Use  community  spe- 
cialists and  reports  of  title  activities 
by  boys  of  troop. 


rluniors 


— -°o— 

Membership  and 
Talent  Night 

"VTovember  tenth  is  the  time  set 
^  apart  for  Junior  membership  and 
talent  night.  Enthusiastic  preparation 
and  careful  planning  should  make  this 
a  memorable  occasion  in  the  life  of 
each  Junior  Girl.  Be  sure  every  girl 
of  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  has  been  in- 
vited to  join  you.  Have  each  second- 
year  girl  act  as  a  big  sister  to  one  or 
more  of  the  incoming  girls,  making  ar- 
rangements to  call  for  and  be  a  special 
hostess  to  them.  Let  the  program  be 
entertaining  and  inspiring,  a  pleasing 
example  of  Junior  talent.  The  making 
of  the  Junior  bouquet  will  be  a  delight- 
ful ceremony  in  which  every  girl  will 
feel  honored  to  participate. 

[Continued  on  page  738) 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


JOSEPH  F.  SMITH,  PATRIARCH  TO  THE  CHURCH 


(Continued  from  page  695) 
It  has  always  been  understood, 
and  so  the  revelations  declare,  that 
this  office  is  hereditary.  In  a  revela- 
tion to  Hyrum  Smith  a  few  days 
after  the  organization  of  the  Church, 
the  Lord  foreshadowed  this  Priest- 
hood as  it  would  descend  upon  the 
head  of  Hyrum  Smith,  and  implied 
that  it  would  be  an  office  which  would 
pertain  to  his  family,  in  the  follow- 
ing words; 

Behold,  I  speak  unto  you,  Hyrum,  a  few 
words;  for  thou  also  art  under  no  condemna- 
tion, and  thy  heart  is  opened,  and  thy  tongue 
loosed;  and  thy  calling  is  to  exhortation,  and 
to  strengthen  the  church  continually.  Where- 
fore thy  duty  is  unto  the  church  forever,  and 
this  because  of  thy  family.  Amen.  (D.  &  C. 
23:3) 

The  statement  that  the  duty  of  Hy- 
rum Smith  was  to  the  Church  forever 
because  of  his  family,  evidently  con- 
veys the  thought  that  he  would  succeed 
to  the  office  of  Patriarch  and  that  it 
should  continue  in  his  posterity  to  the 
end  of  time,  for,  surely,  it  would  have 
to  continue  in  this  way  to  last  forever 
in  the  Church  upon  the  earth  among 
mortal  men.  Then  again,  the  blessing 
pronounced  upon  the  head  of  Hyrum 
Smith's  father,  was  that  this  calling  was 
to  come  upon  his  head  "and  his  seed 
after  him,  to  the  uttermost."  And  so, 
down  through  the  history  of  the  Church 
this  doctrine  has  been  recognized. 

Joseph  Smith,  Sen.,  was  appointed  in 
December,  1833,  the  first  Patriarch  to 
the  Church.  He  served  from  that  time 
until  his  death,  September  14,  1840.  In 
the  revelation  given  January  19,  1841, 
Hyrum  Smith,  who  at  the  time  was  serv- 
ing as  second  counselor  to  the  Prophet 
in  the  Presidency  of  the  Church,  was 
removed  from  this  position  and  called 
to  take  the  position  of  Patriarch.  How- 
ever, in  calling  Hyrum  to  this  position, 
the  Lord  also  elevated  him  from  the 
position  of  second  counselor,  to  that  of 
assistant  President  of  the  Church,  to 
take  the  place  vacated  by  Oliver 
Cowdery  when  he  was  excommuni- 
cated. The  call  given  at  this  time  is 
very  significant  and  is  as  follows: 

And  again,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  let  my 
servant  William  [Law]  be  appointed,  or- 
dained, and  anointed,  as  a  counselor  unto 
my  servant  Joseph,  in  the  room  of  my  serv- 
ant Hyrum,  that  my  servant  Hyrum  may 
take  the  office  of  Priesthood  and  Patriarch, 
which  was  appointed  unto  him  by  his  father, 
by  blessing  and  also  by  right; 

That  from  henceforth  he  shall  hold  the 
keys  of  the  patriarchal  blessings  upon  the 
head  of  all  my  people.     (D.  &  C.  124:91-2) 

Here  the  right  of  hereditary  posses- 
sion in  the  patriarchal  office  is  pointed 
out  and  the  office  was  conferred  upon 
Hyrum  Smith.  There  was  another  bless- 
ing, not  included  in  the  patriarchal  of- 
fice, that  was  also  bestowed  upon  Hy- 
rum Smith  by  virtue  of  this  revelation, 
and  that  is  the  calling  to  be  an  Assistant- 


President  of  the  Church.  [For  full  par- 
ticulars regarding  this  calling,  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  remarks  of  Elder 
Joseph  Fielding  Smith  at  the  April  Con- 
ference in  1930.  It  is  only  necessary  at 
this  time  to  refer  to  this  calling  with  a 
briefer  statement.]  In  this  same  revela- 
tion and  in  the  same  call,  the  Lord  said, 
speaking  of  Hyrum: 

And  from  this  time  forth  I  appoint  unto 
him  that  he  may  be  a  prophet,  and  a  seer, 
and  a  revelator  unto  my  church,  as  well 
as  my  servant  Joseph; 

That  he  may  act  in  concert  also  with  my 
servant  Joseph;  and  that  he  shall  receive 
counsel  from  my  servant  Joseph,  who  shall 
show  unto  him  the  keys  whereby  he  may 
ask  and  receive,  and  be  crowned  with  the 
same  blessing,  and  glory,  and  honor,  and 
priesthood,  and  gifts  of  the  priesthood,  that 
once  were  put  upon  him  that  was  my  serv- 
ant Oliver  Cowdery; 

That  my  servant  Hyrum  may  bear  record 
of  the  things  which  I  shall  show  unto  him, 
that  his  name  may  be  had  in  honorable  re- 
membrance from  generation  to  generation, 
forever  and  ever.     (D.  6  C.  124:94-96.) 

In  other  words,  in  addition  to  the  of- 
fice of  Patriarch,  Hyrum  Smith  was 
blessed  with  another  and  even  higher 
calling,  that  is,  to  hold  the  keys  of 
Presidency  jointly  with  the  Prophet  Jo- 
seph Smith,  and  verses  94,  95,  and  96 
of  section  124,  in  the  Doctrine  and 
Covenants,  quoted  above,  have  no  ref- 
erence whatever  to  the  calling  of  Patri- 
arch to  the  Church;  they  refer  to  the 
blessing  which  had  formerly  been  given 
to  Oliver  Cowdery,  which  blessing  was 
given  in  compliance  with  the  law  of 
witnesses  as  it  is  set  forth  in  the  scrip- 
tures, which  law  made  it  necessary  that 
two  witnesses  stand  at  the  head  of  the 
Dispensation  of  the  Fulness  of  Times 
to  testify  to  the  world  of  the  restora- 
tion of  the  Church  and  the  Holy  Priest- 
hood. This  law  was  given  in  the  very 
beginning  of  time  and  is  stated  by  Paul 
in  these  words:  "In  the  mouth  of  two 
or  three  witnesses  shall  every  word  be 
established."  (2  Cor.  13:1)  (See  Deut. 
17:6)  Our  Lord,  Himself,  complied 
with  this  law.  When  the  Jews  declared 
that  He  stood  alone  with  no  one  to  testi- 
fy for  Him,  therefore  they  were  under 
no  obligation  to  believe  Him,  the  Savior 
answered  them: 

Though  I  bear  record  of  myself,  yet  my 
record  is  true;  for  I  know  whence  I  came, 
and  whither  I  go;  but  ye  cannot  tell  whence 
I  come,  and  whither  I  go. 

Ye  judge  after  the  flesh;  I  judge  no  man. 

And  yet  if  I  judge,  my  judgment  is  true: 
for  I  am  not  alone,  but  I  and  the  Father  that 
sent  me. 

It  is  also  written  in  your  law,  that  the 
testimony  of  two  men  is  true. 

I  am  one  that  bear  witness  of  myself,  and 
the  Father  that  sent  me  beareth  witness  of 
me. 

In  harmony  with  this  law  the  Lord 
called  Oliver  Cowdery  as  the  second 
witness  to  stand  at  the  head  of  this  dis- 
pensation assisting  the  Prophet  in  hold- 
ing the  keys.  The  records  inform  us 
that  every  time  the  Prophet  received 


authority  and  the  keys  of  the  Priesthood 
from  the  heavens,  Oliver  Cowdery 
shared  in  the  conferring  of  those  powers 
with  the  Prophet.  Had  Oliver  Cow- 
dery remained  faithful  and  had  he  sur- 
vived the  Prophet  under  those  condi- 
tions, he  would  have  succeeded  as 
President  of  the  Church  by  virtue  of 
this  divine  calling. 

This  blessing  was  also  confirmed  up- 
on the  head  of  Oliver  Cowdery  by  the 
Prophet,  December  5,  1834,  in  the  fol- 
lowing words: 

I  laid  my  hands  upon  Brother  Oliver 
Cowdery,  and  ordained  him  an  Assistant- 
President,  saying  these  words:  "In  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  was  crucified  for 
the  sins  of  the  world,  I  lay  my  hands  upon 
thee  and  ordain  thee  an  Assistant-President 
of  the  High  and  Holy  Priesthood,  in  the 
Church  of  the  Latter-day  Saints."  (D.  H.  C. 
2:176.) 

This  ordination  is  in  accord  with  the 
calling  as  stated  in  the  Doctrine  and 
Covenants  20:2-4.  The  Prophet  ex- 
plained that  this  ordination  means  that 
the  office  of  Assistant-President  is  to 
assist  in  presiding  over  the  whole 
Church,  and  to  officiate  in  the  absence 
of  the  President,  and  to  rank  ahead  of 
the  counselors  in  the  First  Presidency. 
He  also  explained  that  "The  office  of 
this  Priesthood  is  also  to  act  as  spokes- 
man, taking  Aaron  for  an  example.  The 
virtue  of  the  above  Priesthood  is  to  hold 
the  keys  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  or 
the  Church  militant."  (MS.  Book  A, 
chapter  one. ) 

This  blessing  which  had  been  given 
to  Oliver  Cowdery  was  by  revelation 
and  commandment  conferred  upon  Hy- 
rum Smith,  and  he  was  ordained  to  be 
an  Assistant-President,  January  19, 
1842,  and  to  hold  the  keys  jointly  with 
the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith  at  the  head 
of  the  Dispensation  of  the  Fulness  of 
Times,  as  the  second  witness  and  elder 
in  the  Church.  It  should  be  understood 
that  this  blessing  is  in  no  sense  a  part 
of  the  patriarchal  calling.  It  was  not 
conferred  upon  Joseph  Smith,  Sen.,  who 
was  Patriarch  when  Oliver  Cowdery 
received  this  blessing.  It  has  not  been, 
and  cannot  be,  given  to  any  Patriarch 
succeeding  Hyrum  Smith,  who  still  holds 
those  keys  with  the  Prophet  presiding 
over  this  last  dispensation. 

The  offices  of  Patriarch  and  Assist- 
ant-President were  held  by  Hyrum 
Smith  until  the  martyrdom.  The  office  of 
Patriarch  was  then  offered  to  William 
Smith,  the  only  surviving  brother  of  the 
Prophet,  and  President  Brigham  Young 
declared  it  was  his  by  right.  William 
Smith  confirmed  the  saying  of  the  Lord, 
"many  are  called  but  few  are  chosen," 
for  he  failed  to  magnify  this  calling, 
turned  against  his  brethren  and  was  ex- 
communicated. He  was  never  sustained 
by  the  vote  of  the  people,  and  therefore 
never  did  legally  act;  he  was  called, 
but  was  not  chosen. 

The  third  Patriarch  was  Father  John 

(Concluded  on  page  738) 

737 


THE    IMPROVEMENT    ERA,    NOVEMBER,   1942 


JOSEPH  F.  SMITH,  PATRIARCH  TO  THE  CHURCH 


(Concluded  from  page  737) 

Smith,  only  surviving  uncle  of  the 
Prophet.  He  was  called  to  this  posi- 
tion because  Hyrum  Smith  did  not  leave 
a  son  old  enough  to  receive  the  office. 
Father  John  Smith  played  a  prominent 
part  in  the  early  days  in  Utah.  In  Au- 
gust, 1847,  before  the  return  of  Presi- 
dent Brigham  Young  to  Nebraska,  Fa- 
ther John  Smith  was  placed  in  charge 
in  the  Salt  Lake  Valley  as  the  president 
of  the  little  colony.  He  died  May  23, 
1854,  in  Salt  Lake  City. 

The  fourth  Patriarch  was  John  Smith, 
eldest  son  of  Hyrum  Smith.  He  was 
an  inexperienced  boy  twenty-three 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  ordina- 
tion, and  after  he  was  ordained  Presi- 
dent Brigham  Young  sent  him  on  a  mis- 
sion that  he  might  gain  experience.  He 
died  in  Salt  Lake  City,  November  6, 


(Continued  from  page  736) 
Joint  Activities 

T  AST  spring  the  Junior-Explorer  com- 
"^  mittee  of  the  general  board  made  a 
survey  among  over  two  thousand  Jun- 
ior Girls  and  Explorers  to  learn  their 
reactions  to  the  Junior-Explorer  pro- 

?ram.  To  our  great  satisfaction  we 
ound  that  the  young  people  themselves 
were  delighted  with  these  joint  activi- 
ties. An  overwhelming  majority  stated 
that  the  evenings  spent  in  joint  partici- 
pation were  the  most  enjoyable  of  the 
year.  Most  of  them  asked  for  more 
joint  work:  lessons,  parties,  sports,  or 
dancing  and  drama.  We  were  very 
happy  to  find  these  programs  accepted 
so  wholeheartedly  by  the  young  people. 

A  Five-point  Program 

'T'his  year  we  have  planned  again  a 
five-point  program.  Leaders,  plan 
to  have  these  activities  carried  on  as 
a  group.  Remember  this  program  is 
to  promote  wholesome,  friendly  rela- 
tionships between  our  girls  and  boys. 
Group  participation  will  help  to  es- 
tablish this  feeling  of  many  happy 
friendships. 

We  hope  you  had  a  joyous  time  at 
the  fall  get-acquainted,  girl-hostess 
party.     We  did,  in  planning  for  it. 

Look  forward  to  the  other  four  points 
of  our  Junior-Explorer  star  so  that  by 
early,  prayerful  planning  you  will  en- 
joy an  outstanding  year  of  keen  satis- 
faction in  knowing  that  our  Juniors  and 
Explorers  have  enriched  their  lives 
through  these  adventures  in  sociability. 


ftSpls 


Advantages  of  New 
Organization  Program 

TThe  effect  of  adopting  the  new  or- 
ganization  program  for  Scout  and 
738 


1911,  after  holding  the  office  for  over 
fifty-six  years. 

The  fifth  Patriarch  was  Hyrum  Gibbs 
Smith,  grandson  of  John  Smith,  and  the 
great-grandson  of  Hyrum  Smith.  He 
was  ordained  under  the  hands  of  Presi- 
dent Joseph  F.  Smith,  May  9,  1912.  He 
died  February  4,  1932,  in  Salt  Lake 
City.  For  ten  years  this  office  has  been 
vacant,  except  for  the  fact  that  Presi- 
dent Heber  J.  Grant  appointed  tempor- 
arily as  "acting"  Patriarch,  Elder 
George  F.  Richards  of  the  Council  of 
the  Twelve  Apostles  who  was  a  patri- 
arch for  a  number  of  years  in  the  Tooele 
Stake. 

The  Patriarch  to  the  Church  holds 
the  keys  of  blessing  for  the  members  of 
the  Church.  He  has  the  authority  to 
seal  blessings  upon  the  heads  of  the 
members  in  all  parts  of  the  Church,  that 
they  may,  if  they  prove  faithful,  enjoy 
■  ♦  . 

MUTUAL  MESSAGES 

Explorer  work  has  already  shown  its 
benefits.  One  of  these  is  that  the  chair- 
man of  each  troop  committee  is  drawn 
into  greater  responsibility  and  useful- 
ness by  being  made  a  member  of  the 
district  committee.  This  is  good  for  the 
district  and  for  the  troop.  The  district 
committee  receives  the  fresh  problems 
direct  from  the  troop  and  is  able  to 
keep  closer  to  its  practical  work.  This 
avoids  the  situation  which  sometimes 
occurs  where  the  governing  body  is 
dealing  in  theory,  while  the  body  gov- 
erned is  dealing  in  practice. 

The  benefit  to  the  troop  is  obvious. 
The  chairman  of  the  ward  troop  has 
been  often  more  of  a  figurehead  than 
an  active  Scouter.  Usually  he  is  a 
busy  man,  and  the  subject  of  the  troop 
is  not  often  on  his  mind.  Now  meet- 
ing with  the  district  group  and  acting 
on  one  of  the  six  operating  commit- 
tees, he  is  brought  in  closer  touch  with 
this  great  boy  movement  and  carries 
back  to  the  ward  new  ideas,  better 
acquaintance  with  Scout  problems  and 
greater  enthusiasm. 

Perhaps  even  a  greater  benefit  of  the 
new  plans  is  the  closer  touch  both  the 
stake  and  ward  committees  have  with 
the  Priesthood.  The  stake  president 
or  one  of  his  counselors  is  invited  to 
be  chairman  of  the  finance  committee 
and  through  his  association  with  the 
district  work  is  able  to  carry  back  to 
the  stake  presidency  and  high  council 
friendly  knowledge  of  what  is  going 
on  in  this  branch  of  our  boy  work. 

In  the  ward  the  bishop  is  to  be  as- 
sociated with  the  troop  committee  or 
have  one  of  his  counselors  take  this 
place.  His  is  an  advisory  relation,  but 
that  is  not  meant  to  be  just  nominal  but 
a  real  working  relationship.  By  this 
association  he  can  become  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  boyhood  of  the  ward 
and  the  character-building  work  that 
is  being  done  among  them — or  its 
failure  if  the  committee  is  not  function- 


whatever  is  pronounced  upon  their 
heads,  and  come  forth  in  the  resurrec- 
tion to  obtain  eternal  life.  To  gain 
such  blessings,  however,  all  the  ordin- 
ances and  covenants  belonging  to  the 
gospel  and  to  exaltation  must  by  them 
be  received.  A  blessing  given  by  a 
Patriarch  is  intended  to  point  out  the 
path  which  the  recipient  should  travel. 
It  should  be  given  by  the  spirit  of  reve- 
lation and  should  be  a  great  comfort  and 
incentive  to  the  recipient  to  continue  on 
in  faithfulness  to  the  end.  The  Patri- 
arch also  holds  the  key  by  which  the 
lineage  of  those  whom  he  blesses  may 
be  made  known.  It  is  a  very  important 
and  most  holy  and  sacred  calling.  We 
all  feel  sure  that  the  new  Patriarch  will 
uphold  the  traditions  of  the  Church,  be 
a  credit  to  his  family,  and  magnify  his 
calling  in  the  spirit  of  humility,  prayer, 
and  faith. 


ing  and  the  Scoutmaster  is  not  com- 
petent. 

Another  valuable  relationship  is  that 
a  member  of  the  district  Scout  commit- 
tee is  to  be  associated  with  the  stake 
Aaronic  Priesthood  committee  to  as- 
sist in  the  activities  and  cooperation  of 
the  programs. 

iBee-HiVe  Girls 


=C5 

Calling  All  Bee-Keepers 

An  alert  sounds  and  you  are  faced 
*^  with  a  warning  sign  "Stop!  Look! 
Listen!"  Stop  and  consider  the  swarm 
gatherings  of  the  past  few  weeks  and 
with  a  pencil  in  hand  analyze  your 
successes  and  failures  that  you  may 
proceed  along  affirmative  lines  repair- 
ing and  rebuilding  at  weak  spots.  Look 
carefully  for  such  danger  signals  as 
poor  order,  disinterest,  lack  of  attend- 
ance, and  ask  yourself  if  more  prepara- 
tion may  not  correct  these  problems. 
Listen  to  the  voice  within  you  that  helps 
to  understand  the  needs  of  the  girl  and 
makes  preparation  a  work  of  love  and 
not  a  burden. 

Some  Suggestions 

We  have  been  pleased  with  the  en- 
thusiastic reports  we  have  received  of 
ward  conventions  and  progress  up  to 
date.  As  our  contribution  we  would 
like  to  offer  the  following  suggestions 
which  may  smooth  out  some  rough 
places: 

1.  Supplement.  It  is  essential  that  every 
Bee-Keeper  have  a  copy  of  the  1942  supple- 
ment, and  that  it  be  read  and  applied  to  fit 
the  guides  in  the  handbook. 

2.  Organization.  District  Bee-Keepers 
are  being  retained,  and  although  no  district 
meetings  are  held,  they  will  be  glad  to  give 
you  every  assistance  possible.     Stake  Bee- 

(Concluded  on  page  749) 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  SATURDAY  MORNING 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,    NOVEMBER,   1942 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  FIRST  SESSION 


ALMA  SONNE 

Assistant  to  the  Twelve 

Delivered   at    the   Saturday    Morning 
Session  of  the  113th  Semiannual  Gen- 
eral Conference,   October  3,   1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle, 

My  brethren,  I  have  been  touched, 
as  you  have,  by  the  timely,  com- 
prehensive, straight-forward, 
and  inspiring  message  submitted  by  the 
Presidency  of  this  Church,  to  which  we 


ALMA  SONNE 

have  just  listened.  I  share  with  you  an 
unusual  emotion  as  we  see  this  large 
gathering  of  Priesthood,  for  here  are 
represented  the  workers  and  the  lead- 
ers of  the  Church.  I  rejoice  in  the 
quality  of  leadership  represented  and 
manifested  here. 

A  great  responsibility  rests  upon  the 
Latter-day  Saints,  a  responsibility 
which  consists,  not  only  in  teaching, 
but  in  living  the  restored  gospel.  The 
spiritual  crisis  existing  in  the  world  to- 
day is  a  challenge  to  every  church  and 
to  every  devoted  church  member. 

Roger  Babson,  within  the  last  week, 
has  endeavored  to  answer  the  question: 
"How  long  will  the  present  war  last?" 
He  said: 

It  will  end  only  when  we  repent  of  our 
sins,  readjust  our  wasteful  standards  of  liv- 
ing, and  once  more  make  God  the  ruler  of 
our  homes,  schools,  businesses,  and  nation. 

Mr.  Babson's  statement  reflects  the 
wisdom  of  a  man  who  has  spent  many 
years  in  the  study  of  economic  trends 
and  business  cycles.  He  has  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  man  cannot  live  by 
bread  alone,  and  that  we  have  reached 
a  juncture  in  the  history  of  this  world, 
when  it  is  either  "Christ  or  collapse." 

This  Church  has  supplied  a  back- 
ground before  which  our  nation  can  go 


forward  triumphantly,  victoriously  and 
gloriously.  No  nation  is  greater  than 
its  spiritual  concepts.  Spirituality  is 
a  recognition  of  God's  power  in  the 
universe  and  in  the  affairs  of  men  and 
nations.  It  is  a  recognition  of  divine 
commandment  as  a  guide  to  humanity  in 
their  struggles  and  strivings.  It  recog- 
nizes God  as  ruler  and  creator  and  pro- 
claims the  fatherhood  of  God  and  the 
brotherhood  of  man. 

This  Christian  doctrine  is  the  very 
cornerstone  of  freedom,  and  it  is  the 
mission  of  this  Church  to  promote  it, 
and  to  inspire  faith  in  the  hearts  of 
men.  In  this  solemn  obligation  we  must 
not  fail,  for  faith  is  the  bedrock  of  hu- 
man life,  without  which  the  soul  of  man 
has  no  anchorage.  Despotism  may 
govern  without  such  faith,  but  demo- 
cracy will  die  without  it. 

May  we  appreciate  the  opportunity 
we  have,  as  members  of  Christ's 
Church.  May  we  recognize  in  Jesus 
Christ  the  only  safe  leadership  which 
we  can  follow  in  these  days  of  uncer- 
tainty and  confusion. 

May  God  give  us  strength  and  wis- 
dom to  walk  in  the  way  of  righteous- 
ness, that  our  daily  example  may  be  a 
sermon  to  our  friends,  far  and  near,  I 
pray,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen. 

RICHARD  L 


EVANS 


of  the  First  Council  of  the  Seventy 

Delivered    at    the   Saturday    Morning 
Session  of  the  \\3th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,   in 
the  Tabernacle. 

As  I  face  this  body  of  people,  I  al- 
ways feel  under  the  necessity,  it 
seems,  of  calling  upon  the  sus- 
tenance and  direction  of  my  Father  in 
heaven  for  what  I  shall  say,  and  I  do 
so  at  this  time. 

I  think  it  would  be  enjoyable  some 
time  when  the  pressure  of  life  is  not 
so  great,  to  indulge  in  the  luxury  of  long 
and  leisurely  sermonizing.  That  is  a 
luxury,  however,  that  sometimes  is  en- 
joyed by  the  speaker  more  than  it  is 
by  the  audience. 

First  of  all  this  morning  I  should  like 
to  welcome  to  his  new  calling,  Brother 
Joseph  F.  Smith.  I  have  enjoyed  the 
intimacy  of  his  home,  and  he  of  mine. 
I  have  stood  by  him  in  some  of  the 
critical  days  of  his  life,  of  which  he 
spoke  here  this  morning.  I  know  him 
to  be  a  man  of  faith  and  courage,  and 
I  look  forward  to  the  coming  years  of 
close  association  with  him  in  the  coun- 
cils of  the  Church. 

I  should  like  to  read  a  statement 
which  I  found  the  other  day,  first 
printed  in  the  second  number  of  the  Eve- 
ninq  and  Morning  Star,  back  in  July, 
1832.  as  I  recall: 


The  old  world  was  destroyed  for  reject- 
ing the  revelations  of  God  given  to  them 
through  Noah.  The  Israelites  were  de- 
stroyed in  the  wilderness  for  despising  the 
revelations  given  to  them  through  Moses; 
and  Christ  said  that  the  world,  in  the  days 
of  the  apostles,  would  be  condemned  for 
not  receiving  the  word  of  God  through 
them:  Thus  we  see  that  the  judgments  of 
God  in  the  past  ages  have  come  upon  the 
people,  not  so  much  for  neglecting  the  reve- 
lations given  to  their  forefathers,  as  for  re- 
jecting those  given  particularly  to  them- 
selves.  {Doc.  Hist.,  vol.  1:277) 

Since  the  restoration  there  has  never 
been  a  time  in  the  history  of  this  people 
when  the  leadership  of  this  Church  has 
not  given  direction  concerning  those 
things  which  vitally  affect  the  temporal 
and  spiritual  welfare  of  this  Church 
and  this  people;  and  the  present  and  the 
immediate  past  are  no  exceptions  to 
this  general  statement.  Those  who 
have  not  seen  the  way  in  which  that  di- 
rection has  pointed  have  not  seen  it, 
either  because  they  have  been  too  in- 
different, or  because  they  have  chosen 
not  to  see  it. 

I  hope  that  this  fact  will  be  burnished 
upon  our  hearts  and  not  only  upon  ours 
but  upon  the  hearts  of  all  of  our  young 
people,  as  they  leave  the  shelter  of  our 
homes,  of  necessity,  as  they  become 
uprooted  from  their  native  soil  in  this 
surge  of  humanity  that  floods  here  and 
there,  these  days,  that  they  may  be  led 


RICHARD  L.  EVANS 

to  know,  with  us,  that  truth  is  not  a 
matter  of  convenience;  that  principles 
and  ideals  are  not  a  matter  of  geo- 
graphy or  environment;  that  there  is 
only  one  set  of  rules — that  a  thing  that 
was  not  right  at  home  is  not  right  away 
from  home — if  it  was  not  right  where 
we  came  from,  it  isn't  right  anywhere. 
(Concluded  on  page  740) 
739 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  SATURDAY  AFTERNOON 


RICHARD  L  EVANS 

(Continued  from  page  739) 
TI^[ay  we  go  with  them- — these  young 

■*■  people  of.  ours — with  our  prayers 
and  our  letters — with  our  teachings  be- 
fore they  leave,  and  with  the  example 
of  our  own  lives  always  to  fortify 
them,  so  that  they  may  look  back  to 
us,  to  their  homes,  to  their  Church  for 
strength  and  comfort  in  critical  times. 

Concerning  all  that  has  been  spoken 
and  shall  be  spoken  during  this  con- 
ference, and  at  all  times,  by  the  lead- 
ership of  this  Church,  I  close  with  the 
words  of  Joseph  Smith,  the  Prophet: 

Therefore  I  declare  unto  you  the  warning 
which  the  Lord  has  commanded  to  declare 
unto  this  generation,  remembering  that  the 
eyes  of  my  Maker  are  upon  me,  and  that 
to  Him  I  am  accountable  for  every  word  I 
say,  wishing  nothing  worse  to  my  fellow 
men  than  their  eternal  salvation. 

May  God  help  all  of  us  to  have 
strength,  in  the  days  to  come,  no  mat- 
ter what  may  lie  before  us,  to  adhere  to 
those  principles  which  were  dearer  to 
our  fathers  than  life  itself.  No  matter 
how  we  may  be  called  upon  to  shift 
the  superstructure  of  our  lives,  and  to 
change  the  superficial  habits  of  our 
living,  may  we  never  shift  our  founda- 
tions, I  ask,  in  the  name  of  Him  whose 
work  this  is,  even  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen. 

STEPHEN  L  RICHARDS 

(Concluded  from  page  705) 
sonal  danger,  his  care  of  the  wounded 
John  Taylor,  and  his  taking  the  bodies 
of  Joseph  and  Hyrum  back  to  Nauvoo. 
I  knew  that  he  had  had  the  closest  per- 
sonal relationship  with  Joseph  and  that 
if    there    had    been    anything    untrue 


about  him  he  would  have  discovered  it. 
I  know  that  Willard  Richards  had  the 
utmost  confidence  in  the  Prophet  and 
an  absolute  conviction  of  the  divinity  of 
the  latter-day  work.  This  realization, 
as  I  visited  this  sad  but  hallowed  scene 
of  our  history,  seemed  to  intensify 
within  me  my  responsibility  to  be  true 
and  as  helpful  as  my  capacity  would 
permit  to  the  cause  for  which  my  grand- 
father gave  his  devotion,  his  loyalty, 
and  his  life.  I  prayed  to  God  that  it 
might  be  so  and  that  all  of  us  in  the 
Church  who  are  the  descendants  of 
these  noble  men  and  the  beneficiaries 
of  their  sacrifice  and  devotion  might 
also  be  true  and  worthy. 

/^\N  our  journey  westward  we  came 
^■^  to  the  cemetery  at  Winter  Quar- 
ters near  Omaha,  Nebraska.  Within 
the  grounds  the  Church  has  placed 
beautiful  statuary  and  other  embellish- 
ments to  commemorate  the  heroic  dead, 
more  than  six  thousand  of  whom  lost 
their  lives  in  westward  migration  to 
establish  Zion  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. The  chief  statue  is  a  representa- 
tion of  a  pioneer  man  and  his  wife 
bowed  in  grief  over  a  shallow  grave 
wherein  is  laid  the  body  of  their  child. 
The  feeling  that  this  work  of  art  brings 
is  one  of  deep  sorrow.  You  must  weep 
with  the  mother  who  is  to  leave  her 
little  one  on  the  lonely  prairie,  never 
again  even  to  see  the  spot  where  her 
child  is  buried.  But  rising  above  the 
sorrow  are  a  great  courage  and  a  con- 
soling faith  that  take  the  stricken  par- 
ents resolutely  forward  in  their  quest 
for  freedom  and  right  and  make  them 
know  that  in  the  end  "all  is  well."  On 
a  large  flat  plaque  are  inscribed  the 
names  of  about  six  hundred  who  were 


buried  in  this  cemetery.  Among  the 
names  I  found  my  own  kin  and  those  of 
many  other  families  prominent  in  the 
settlement  of  our  western  common- 
wealth. 

It  was  all  very  sad,  and  I  kept  think- 
ing how  much  of  the  tragedy  might 
have  been  avoided  if  only  kindness  and 
tolerance  and  brotherly  love  had  been 
in  the  hearts  of  men.  There  was  a. 
pathetic  side  to  every  historic  scene  at- 
tributable to  man's  inhumanity,  bigotry, 
and  selfishness,  but  in  my  reflections  I 
consoled  myself  with  the  thought  that 
no  great  thing  has  ever  come  into  the 
world  without  trial  and  tribulation,  and 
that  the  greater  the  cause,  the  greater 
the  sacrifice  necessary  to  establish  it. 

Today  we  find  ourselves  engaged  in 
a  worldwide  struggle  to  preserve  liber- 
ty and  tolerance,  the  foundations  of 
peace  in  the  earth.  Let  it  be  remem- 
bered that  these  were  the  very  prin- 
ciples for  which  our  progenitors  have 
made  the  tragic  sacrifices  of  which  I 
have  briefly  reminded  you.  Every 
shrine  of  the  Church  is  a  monument  to 
freedom  and  truth.  There  have  been 
no  more  sincere  and  valiant  defenders 
of  true  democracy  than  the  Latter-day 
Saints.  No  higher  concepts  of  the 
liberty  of  man,  the  sonship  of  God,  and 
the  brotherhood  of  race  have  been 
given  to  the  world  than  those  which 
have  emanated  from  the  Prophet  of  the 
last  dispensation. 

It  is  my  humble  prayer  that  God  will 
reward  the  heroism,  the  sacrifices,  and 
the  devotion  of  the  past  with  the  per- 
petuation of  liberty  and  goodness  in  the 
world,  and  that  peace — peace  founded 
in  truth  and  in  virtue  and  in  Christian 
brotherhood — may  speedily  come,  in 
the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.   Amen. 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  SECOND  SESSION 


OSCAR  A. 
KIRKHAM 

o/  the  First  Council  of  the  Seventy 

Delivered  at  the  Saturday  Afternoon 
Session  of  the  \\3th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle. 

I  am  grateful  for  this  privilege  and 
trust  that  I  may  enjoy  the  blessings 
of  the  spirit  of  the  Lord. 

In  the  twelfth  chapter  of  Hebrews 
we  read:  Yet  once  more  I  shake  the 
earth — that  those  things  which  cannot 
be  shaken  may  remain. 

Great  is  our  stewardship!  May  we 
be  worthy  of  it  and  magnify  it! 

Under  the  calling  of  the  First  Presi- 
dency of  the  Church,  I  find  myself  con- 
cerned primarily  with  two  great  pro- 
grams— our  youth  and  our  great  mis- 
sionary work. 

Here  lies  opportunity — youth  with  its 
great  spiritual  possibilities,  and  trained 
to  do  its  duty,  and  the  world  hunger- 
ing for  the  gospel  message. 

740 


OSCAR  A.  KfRKHAM 


Recently  while  visiting  in  the  North- 
ern States  Mission  we  were  traveling 


one  day  through  the  state  of  Indiana. 
We  were  impressed  with  the  great 
farms  and  the  great  corn  crop.  "How 
many  kernels  of  corn  are  there  on  a 
cob?"  asked  President  Muir.  I  did  not 
know.  "Well,"  said  he,  "there  are 
many  cobs  that  have  as  many  as  1000 
kernels."  I  had  my  doubts  and  at  the 
next  prosperous  farm,  I  requested  that 
the  car  stop.  I  went  in  and  proffered  to 
purchase  a  large  cob.  A  boy  near  by 
said:  "Come  on,  I'll  give  you  an  ear 
of  corn."  We  went  to  the  barnyard 
and  as  I  passed  a  large  crib  I  said— 
"There  is  a  fine  big  ear,  may  I  take 
this?"  "No,"  said  the  boy,  "that  is  our 
seed  corn."  He  found  me  a  large  cob 
soon,  however,  and  to  my  surprise 
there  were  nine  hundred  and  forty  ker- 
nels on  the  cob.  This  number  of  kernels 
soon  became  a  secondary  thing,  how- 
ever, for  I  was  still  thinking  of  what  the 
boy  had  said.  "No,  you  can't  have  that. 
It  is  our  seed  corn." 

I  remember  reading  that  when  Robert 
E.  Lee  was  being  pressed  in  the  south 
to  conscript  the  sixteen-year-old  boy 
for  service  in  the  Confederate  Army, 
he  said:  "No,  we  cannot  do  that,  they 
are  our  seed  corn." 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  SATURDAY  AFTERNOON 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,    1942 


OSCAR  A.  KIRKHAM 

We,  today,  in  our  own  Church  have 
the  task  to  preserve  our  youth — "that 
those  things  which  cannot  be  shaken 
may  remain." 

Among  the  many  things  which  we 
may  do,  I  suggest — A  greater  and 
deeper  sincerity  among  us — we  who  are 
called  to  lead. 

A  boy  recently  speaking  to  his  chum 
about  his  father,  who  had  asked  him  to 
attend  his  quorum  meeting,  said:  "I 
felt  something  deeply  sincere  in  father's 
voice  today — and  I  liked  it." 

A  president  of  a  stake  recently  after 
reviewing  the  results  of  a  stake  Priest- 
hood meeting  said:  "Before  this  meet- 
ing I  should  have  had  an  hour  of  medi- 
tation and  prayer."  Yes,  brethren,  our 
task  calls  for  our  best — a  deep  sincerity 
in  what  we  do. 

We  must  give  them  our  companion- 
ship.    We   must   be  nearer  to  them. 

One  of  our  sons  recently  came  home 
from  college  for  a  few  days  before  he 
went  into  the  armed  forces  of  our 
country.  I  was  asking  him  what  he 
needea — how  much  money  for  travel 
and  so  on.  I  was  surprised  to  hear  him 
say — "Well,  Father,  what  I  need  most 
is  a  long  talk  with  you."  And  I  shall 
never  forget  those  sacred  hours.  He 
may  have  been  helped  a  bit — and  I 
know  I  was  helped  a  great  deal.  We 
shared  the  conversation  as  we  spoke 
of  the  importance  of  faith  in  oneself, 
and  faith  in  our  dreams  of  the  future, 
never  to  falter  or  fail;  faith  in  mankind, 
although  we  may  be  greatly  tried;  and 
faith  in  God,  for  His  love  will  endure 
forever  and  be  a  protection  and  help  in 
the  hour  of  great  need. 

Yes,  and  we  must  be  nearer  to  the 
thousands  at  home  in  our  own  com- 
munity life.  A  boy  or  girl  with  a 
purse  full  of  money,  with  a  natural  urge 
for  a  good  time,  a  hundred  questionable 
places  to  go,  is  a  real  individual  and 
social  problem  and  a  most  vital  chal- 
lenge to  us — their  leaders.  Have  we 
provided  the  best  we  can?  Are  we 
meeting  their  needs?  Do  they  feel  a 
sense  of  cooperation?  We  must  be 
nearer  to  them.  They  are  waiting  and 
willing  to  be  led. 

We  must  teach  them  the  gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ  of  Latter-day  Saints  as 
restored  by  the  Prophet  Joseph  Smith. 
For  this  great  message  has  been  en- 
trusted to  us.  We  must  teach  them  that 
it  is  not  only  for  the  enrichment  of  their 
own  lives  but  that  they  may  become  the 
ambassadors  of  the  gospel — for  it  is  to 
be  preached  to  all  the  world. 

Last  week  in  Akron,  Ohio,  I  was 
greatly  blessed:  I  baptised  five  friends. 
After  they  had  been  confirmed,  one  of 
them,  a  girl  in  her  early  teens  said, 
with  tear-filled  eyes,  "Oh,  how  grate- 
ful I  am!  This  is  the  happiest  moment 
of  my  life!" 

Yes,  the  gospel  is  the  most  joyous 
gift  of  life. 

May  we  preserve  and  train  these 
youth  for  their  great  destiny.  And  if 
we  do  our  part  sincerely,  humbly,  and 


aggressively,  lo,  the  Lord  will  work 
the  miracles  with  us  and  our  hearts 
shall  be  filled  with  courage  and  joy. 
"Yet  once  more  I  shake  the  earth — 
that  those  things  which  cannot  be 
shaken  may  remain." 

I  humbly  pray  for  us — the  strength, 
wisdom,  and  the  love  to  do  our  task, 
and  I  ask  for  these  blessings  in  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ,  Amen. 

RUFUS  K. 


HARDY 


of  the  First  Council  of  the  Seventy 

Delivered  at  the  Saturday  Afternoon 
Session  of  the  \\3th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,   in 
the  Tabernacle. 

To  you,  my  beloved  brethren,   to 
you  who  have  been  chosen,  se- 
lected, and  invited  to  attend  this 
great   conference,    I    extend   my   love, 


RUFUS  K.  HARDY 

and  also  my  great  admiration  for  that 
which  is  going  on  in  this  Church.  All 
my  life,  as  I  feel  that  also  all  your  lives, 
you  have  seen  the  hand  of  God  in  its 
operation.  And  yet,  for  the  moment 
or  two  that  I  have  to  stand  here,  I 
would  like  to  say  something  that  might 
make  us  feel  just  a  little  bit  more  of  an 
urge  to  do  that  which  we  know  should 
be  done. 

This  great  gathering  blessed  with 
the  choicest  diadem  of  God,  His 
Priesthood,  is  for  what?  Surely  we  all 
can  answer;  it  is  for  but  one  purpose, 
and  that  purpose  is  to  bring  to  pass  the 
salvation  of  the  souls  of  men,  and  is 
so  declared  by  the  Lord  through  the 
Prophet  Joseph  Smith:  "Behold,  this 
is  my  work  and  my  glory — to  bring  to 
pass  the  immortality  and  eternal  life 
of  man."  No  more  plainly  stated  is 
this,  than  that  which  is  declared  in  the 


first  chapter  of  Genesis  in  our  holy 
sacred  history,  the  Bible.  You  will  re- 
call that  God,  after  having  formed 
this  earth — after  having  created  this 
great  universe- — after  all  things,  both 
animal  and  vegetable  had  been  made  by 
Him,  and  in  the  great  firmament  above 
that  He  had  placed  great  lights,  the 
sun,  the  moon,  and  the  twinkling  stars, 
those  heavenly  traffic  signals  that  we 
should  obey,  for  they  turn  the  days  into 
weeks  and  the  weeks  into  months,  and 
the  months  into  years — then  God  did 
something  which  to  me  is  one  of  the 
most  marvelous  things  that  I  have  read 
about.  God  spoke  to  His  companions 
and  said,  "Let  us  make  man  in  our 
image,  after  our  likeness."  "So  God 
created  man  in  his  own  image,  in  the 
image  of  God  created  he  him;  male  and 
female  created  he  them." 

And  then  the  thing  which  was  per- 
formed which  brings  us  nearer  to  God 
than  anything  that  I  can  imagine,  was 
this:  "And  the  Lord  God  formed  man 
of  the  dust  of  the  ground,  and  breathed 
into  his  nostrils  the  breath  of  life;  and 
man  became  a  living  soul." 

That  which  God  has  made  He  de- 
sired protected  and  kept.  Even  so 
every  declaration  that  we  have  in  our 
sacred  history  handed  down  to  us  by 
tradition  bears  this  same  record  and 
this  same  declaration:  preserve  and 
keep  and  save  the  souls  of  men. 

And,  so,  especially  to  our  seventies, 
especially  to  these  men  upon  whose 
shoulders  rests  the  responsibility  di- 
rectly from  God  of  teaching  and 
preaching  this  gospel  abroad  and  at 
home,  I  would  say  remember  that  which 
is  choicest  of  all  things  in  God's  heart 
is  the  souls  of  men,  and  preserve  them 
and  keep  them. 

I  am  grateful  for  my  associations — 
thankful  to  God  for  the  opportunity  I 
have  had  of  being  associated  with 
these  fine  men  who  stand  at  the  head 
of  this  Church,  and  I  trust  and  pray 
that  I  may  always  be  worthy- — that  I 
may  do  that  which  will  bring  to  pass 
that  which  God  would  like  accom- 
plished and  that  we  all,  you  fine  presi- 
dents of  stakes,  presidents  of  quorums, 
bishops  of  wards,  together,  may  bend 
our  efforts  to  bring  to  pass  God's  wish 
that  the  souls  of  men  may  be  saved  in 
His  kingdom,  I  ask,  in  Jesus'  name. 
Amen. 

THOMAS  E. 
McKAY 

Assistant  to  the  Twelve 

Delivered  at  the  Saturday  Afternoon 
Session  of  the  113th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle, 

The  singing  of  the  beautiful  hymn, 
"A    Poor    Wayfaring    Man    of 
Grief,"  followed  by  the  inspira- 
tional message  of  our  beloved  Presi- 
dent,  and  then  the  solo  so  well  ren- 
(Continued  on  page  742) 
741 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  SATURDAY  AFTERNOON 


THOMAS  E.  McKAY 

(Continued  from  page  741) 
dered  by  Brother  Bennett,  "The  Seer, 
the  Seer,"  has  brought  us  all,  I  am  sure, 
nearer  to  our  Father  in  heaven- — nearer 
to  many  of  our  loved  ones  who  are  on 
the  other  side.  I  am  very  grateful  to- 
day for  my  parents.  I  am  very  grate- 
ful that  I  have  been  considered  worthy 
to  be  associated  with  this  splendid 
body  of  men  bearing  the  Holy  Priest- 
hood and  am  especially  thankful  for 
my  rather  close  association  with  our 
beloved  president,  Heber  J.  Grant,  his 
counselors,  the  Quorum  of  the  Twelve 
and  the  other  General  Authorities  of 
the  Church.  I  appreciate  today,  more 
than  ever  before,  my  membership  in 
this  Church — the  great  organization  of 
the  Church — an  organization  which 
furnishes  not  only  just  a  favored  few 
but  all  the  members  the  opportunity  for 
service. 

I  am  very  happy  to  report  that  our 
members  in  the  European  mission  are 
also  still  carrying  on.  From  some  of 
them  we  have  not  been  able  to  hear 
lately  but  because  of  my  acquaintance 
with  them  and  my  love  for  them  I  am 
sure  I  am  safe  in  saying  that  they  are 
carrying  on  also  as  are  the  members 
from  whom  we  hear.  We  receive  let- 
ters and  reports  regularly  from  the 
British  Mission,  from  Sweden,  and 
from  Switzerland,  also  occasionally 
from  the  Palestine-Syrian  Mission. 
Through  Sweden  we  have  been  able  to 
hear  from  Denmark  and  from  Nor- 
way, and  through  Switzerland,  from 
Belgium  and  from  Valence  in  the 
southern  part  of  France.  The  brethren 
and  sisters  are  holding  their  meetings  as 
usual:  sacrament,  Priesthood  and  aux- 
iliary meetings.  They  are  holding  their 
district  conferences;  they  have  held 
their  M.I.A.  June  conventions.  They 
also  celebrated  the  Relief  Society  Cen- 
tennial in  nearly  all  the  branches  on 
March  15th  and  17th.  Some  of  the 
missions  show  a  very  substantial  in- 
crease in  tithing  and  fast  offerings,  also 
baptisms.  The  following  is  taken  from 
a  recent  letter  from  the  French-Swiss 
District  with  headquarters  at  Neucha- 
tel,  Switzerland: 

Thank  you  very  much  for  your  letters 
dated  June  13th  and  July  28th  which  ar- 
rived within  a  fortnight  of  each  other.  Also 
the  May  Eva  and  two  Relief  Society  Maga~ 
zines;  one  has  been  soaked  in  sea  water. 

The  District  Conference  will  be  held  in 
Geneva  branch  on  the  17th  and  18th  of 
October,  the  date  most  suitable  for  every- 
one. Some  will  come  out  of  military  service 
at  that  time,  and  just  after  some  will  go. 
The  branch  there  is  going  on  strong  and  we 
are  hoping  for  some  baptisms  in  the  near 
future.  Next  Saturday  we  shall  have  four 
or  five  baptisms  in  the  branch  of  Neuchatel. 

The  last  letter  from  Palestine-Syrian 
Mission,  among  other  things,  states: 

I  am  very  happy  I  hear  from  your  side 
and  I  can  write  to  you  all  my  desires,  that 
is  a  blessing  of  the  Lord  to  us.  All  mem- 
bers are  in  good  condition  in  present  time, 
but  wheat  that  we  bought  a  year  ago  is  fin- 
ished and  we  are  much  in  need  of  wheat, 

742 


and  life  is  too  hard  to  live,  but  we  only 
trust  to  Lord  and  prayers  from  Zion  and  all 
will  be  well.  Some  members  can't  pay  for 
living,  and  the  wheat  we  give  to  them.  As 
far  as  we  hear  we  carry  on  in  gospel  and 
all  Saints  in  good  standing  in  faith. 

From    England   we    heard   this    sad 

news: 

Brother  John  Cook  and  his  family  have 
suffered  in  a  recent  air  raid.  The  incendi- 
aries destroyed  most  of  their  bedding  and 
linen.  We  have  sent  them  a  sum  of  ten 
pounds  to  meet  their  immediate  needs  and 
learn  that  the  government  has  also  given 
them  a  smaller  sum,  with  a  promise  of  furth- 
er help  towards  the  end  of  the  war.  Un- 
fortunately, the  cost  of  replacing  the  lost 
bedding  is  so  high  that  the  family  will  have 


THOMAS  E.  McKAY 

to  deny  themselves  for  the  time  being. 
Nevertheless,  they  are  all  well  and  Brother 
Cook,  being  a  genealogist,  is  delighted  that 
all  his  records  and  papers  have  been  pre- 
served. 

The  British  Mission  is  doing  excep- 
tionally well  in  its  missionary  work. 

A  letter  from  Oslo,  Norway,  recent- 
ly came  by  way  of  Sweden.  Some  of 
our  letters  have  been  returned  since 
we  entered  the  war,  with  the  words 
printed  upon  them,  "Service  Suspended 
— Return  to  Sender,"  but  as  I  stated  we 
are  able  to  hear  through  Sweden  from 
the  other  Scandinavian  Missions  and 
through  Switzerland  from  some  of  the 
other  countries. 

This  letter  from  Oslo  informs  us, 
among  other  things,  that: 

The  Saints  are  still  faithful  in  paying 
their  tithes  and  offerings  so  we  are  well 
situated  financially.  We  have  had  six  bap- 
tismal services  this  year,  and  in  hopes  of 
having  more.  Our  mission  paper  Lys  Over 
Norge  is  published  as  before  and  comes  out 
regularly.  Nearly  all  the  branches  in  the 
mission  celebrated  the  Relief  Society  cen- 
tennial with  public  meetings  and  banquets 
on  March  the  15th  and  17th,  and  all  the 
places  had  a  very  fine  time.  The  lessons 
for  our  organizations  we  have  to  work  out 


ourselves  as  best  we  can,  as  we  can't  get 
anything  from  the  headquarters.  How  long 
these  conditions  will  last  is  hard  to  tell,  but 
we  will  do  our  best  to  keep  everything  going 
till  we  get  regular  connections  with  you 
again.  We  trust  in  the  Lord  for  whom  we 
labour,  and  I  am  glad  for  the  many  blessings 
we  receive  from  Him. 

The  following  came  direct  from  the 
Danish  Mission,  via  the  Red  Cross: 

I  send  you  greetings  from  all  of  us.  We 
are  well,  safe  and  happy.  Extend  our  love 
and  best  wishes  to  all. 

This  is  from  the  Swedish  Mission: 

It  is  only  a  year  since  the  unemployment 
on  account  of  the  prevailing  shut-out  from 
other  nations  was  very  much  felt  in  our 
nation.  Now  the  condition  has  turned  the 
other  way  about,  and  the  outcry  for  lack  of 
laborers  is  heard  over  the  land.  There  is 
especially  a  deficiency  in  farm  help  and  also 
for  cutters  to  get  out  wood  from  the  forests. 
This  condition  exists  probably  in  part  be- 
cause of  Sweden's  military  training  of  men 
and  their  calling   to  encampments. 

With  regard  to  the  food  rationings,  they 
are  usually  sufficient,  and  it  is  of  inestimable 
value  that  such  an  important  article  of  con- 
sumption as  milk  is  still  on  the  free  list. 
Vegetables  are  also  plentiful.  There  has 
been  a  further  downward  cut  in  the  meat 
rations,  but  the  procurement  of  fish  is  good. 

From  the  mission  viewpoint  the  activities 
are  singularly  lively,  compared  with  earlier 
periods.  An  especially  fine  unity  prevails, 
and  the  willingness  to  serve  is  great.  As 
regards  the  financial  situation  it  is  still  good, 
which  is  shown  by  the  means  of  the  mission 
having  nearly  doubled  in  comparison  with 
the  previous  year.  Even  the  branch  cash 
shows  a  balance  of  almost  twenty  percent. 

The  Royal  Society  of  Social  Ad- 
ministration Index  shows  that  the  living 
cost  has  increased  forty  percent.  The 
tithing,  however,  shows  an  increase  in 
1940  over  1939,  and  1941  over  1940. 

And  the  following  paragraph  from 
a  letter  from  Beirut: 

We  receive  some  of  the  Church  publica- 
tions you  are  sending  and  by  reading  them 
we  understand  something  about  the  Church, 
and  especially  we  received  the  112th  Semi- 
annual Conference  Report,  and  we  are  ex- 
ceedingly glad  for  it.  Would  that  we  had 
a  chance  to  attend  a  Conference  like  that! 
From  it  we  are  receiving  a  lot  of  informa- 
tion and  advice  to  the  Saints  here  in  Beirut. 
The  lessons  sent  by  President  Amy  Brown 
Lyman  for  the  Relief  Society  sisters  were 
translated  and  delivered  to  the  sisters.  We 
get  a  lot  of  benefit  from  studying  them.  We 
receive  a  lot  of  lessons  and  high  ideals. 
We  were  also  exceedingly  glad  to  read  the 
report  of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of 
the  Society. 

At  present  our  thoughts  are  over  there, 
and  I  pray  that  in  another  year  we  will 
have  peace  with  us. 

All  our  members  in  these  war-torn 
countries  are  doing  their  best  to  carry 
on— God  bless  them.  They  appreciate 
the  gospel  and  know  that  by  living  its 
principles  they  can  have  joy  and  hap- 
piness even  in  these  trying  times.  They 
appreciate  the  prayers  of  you  brethren 
and  other  members  here  at  home,  and 
we  hope  that  you  will  continue  to  re- 
member them.  I  appreciate  very  much 
the  opportunity  that  I  have  of  contact- 
ing them  even  in  a  remote  way. 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  SATURDAY  AFTERNOON 


THE    IMPROVEMENT    ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


THOMAS  E.  McKAY 

I  appreciate  also  the  opportunity  of 
visiting  and  getting  better  acquainted 
with  you  brethren  in  your  various 
stakes.  I  congratulate  you  upon  the 
splendid  work  you  are  doing.  I  have 
enjoyed  my  visits  with  you  in  your 
homes.  Especially  have  I  appreciated 
the  flowers  and  shrubbery  around  these 
homes,  thanks  to  your  wives,  I  sup- 
pose, and  also  the  well  kept  grounds 
around  your  chapels.  I  commend  you 
for  that.  I  hope  you  will  observe  the 
beautiful  trees,  shrubbery  and  flowers 
here  on  these  sacred  tabernacle  grounds 
and  also  the  flowers  near  the  Church 
Office  Building  on  the  sides  and  es- 
pecially on  the  north  end. 

God  bless  you  brethren  for  the 
splendid  work  you  are  doing.  I  think 
I  have  detected,  however,  a  little 
hesitancy,  on  the  part  of  some  with 
reference  to  the  Welfare  Plan.  You 
seem  afraid  of  it;  you  are  standing  on 
the  bank  shivering.  When  I  was  a  lit- 
tle boy,  there  was  a  group  of  us  fellows 
who  used  to  go  from  school  direct  to 
the  swimming  hole  instead  of  going 
home.  In  the  spring  we  could  hardly 
wait  for  the  snow  to  melt  before  hurry- 
ing to  our  swimming  place.  I  remem- 
ber one  spring  we  were  there  when 
there  was  still  snow  under  the  willows 
and  on  the  north  banks.  We  prepared 
for  the  dip.  Some  of  us  felt  of  the 
water  with  our  fingers,  then  with  our 
toes;  it  was  cold  and  the  air  was  chilly; 
we  remained  on  the  bank  shivering. 
There  was  one  boy  in  the  group,  how- 
ever, a  leader- — he  has  always  been  a 
leader — who  didn't  touch  his  toe  to  the 
water,  nor  feel  of  it.  He  just  ducked 
under  and  enjoyed  the  swim.  Some 
of  us  went  home  without  ducking  un- 
der, and  naturally  we  didn't  enjoy  the 
swim. 

Well,  some  of  us  are  on  the  bank, 
hesitating  and  shivering  with  reference 
to  the  Welfare  Plan,  and  perhaps  some 
of  our  other  responsibilities  in  the 
Church.  Brethren,  let  me  advise  you 
to  duck  under  and  you  will  have  great 
joy  in  your  labors.  Give  to  this  work 
the  best  you  have.  "Give  to  the  world 
the  best  you  have,  and  the  best  will 
come  back  to  you."  Look  for  the  good 
and  the  beautiful,  and  the  good  and  the 
beautiful  will  also  come  back  to  you. 
God  help  us  to  do  this,  I  pray  in  Jesus' 
name.     Amen. 

JOSEPH  L 
WIRTHUN 

of  the  Presiding  Bishopric 

Delivered  at  the  Saturday  Afternoon 
Session  of  the  l\3th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle. 

I  sincerely  trust,  my  brethren,  that  the 
same  spirit  that  has  guided  and  in- 
spired those  who  have  spoken  to  us 
during  this  conference  may  guide  and 


direct  me  the  moment  or  two  that  I 
stand  before  you. 

I  have  been  deeply  impressed  with 
the  spirit  of  prophecy  and  revelation 
that  has  characterized  this  conference. 
And  why  shouldn't  there  be  a  spirit  of 
prophecy  and  revelation?  For  we  de- 
clare to  the  world,  "We  believe  all  that 
God  has  revealed,  all  that  He  does  now 
reveal,  and  we  believe  that  He  will  yet 
reveal  many  great  and  important  things 
pertaining  to  the  Kingdom  of  God.'' 

This  declaration  of  faith  is  wholly 
consistent  and  compatible  with  the 
Lord's  dealing  with  His  children  on  the 
earth  whenever  the  Priesthood  has  been 
bestowed  upon  men.  Declared  Amos 
of  ancient  times,  "Surely  the  Lord  God 


JOSEPH   L.  WIRTHUN 

will  do  nothing,  but  he  revealeth  his 
secret  unto  his  servants  the  prophets." 
(Amos  3:7)  The  writer  of  Proverbs 
declared,  "Where  there  is  no  vision, 
the  people  perish."   (Pro v.  29:18) 

It  is  needless  to  go  into  the  annals  of 
history  to  prove  definitely  that  where 
there  has  been  no  vision,  no  revelation, 
and  no  prophecy,  the  people  have  in- 
deed perished.  In  the  days  of  Moses 
and  Isaiah,  Ezekiel,  Daniel,  Peter,  and 
Paul,  revelation  was  in  the  present 
tense.  Consequently  doubters,  disbe- 
lievers, critics,  and  those  who  stoned 
the  prophets,  were  to  be  found  in  great 
numbers,  and  time  alone  has  proved 
the  validity  and  the  authenticity  of  the 
revelations  of  the  Most  High  to  His 
servants  in  all  dispensations. 

We  declare  to  the  world  that  we  do 
not  only  believe  all  that  God  has  re- 
vealed but  we  believe  that  He  does 
now  reveal  His  mind  and  will  to  those 
who  are  His  chosen  servants  upon  the 
earth  today.  And  yet  there  are  those 
who  propound  this  question:  What  of 
present-day  revelations?  Is  God  actual- 
ly revealing  His  mind  and  will  to  those 
who  guide  and  direct  the  destiny  of  His 


Church?  To  such  I  would  say  that  they 
are  seekers  of  a  sign,  and  as  the  writer 
of  Proverbs  says,  "The  fear  of  the  Lord 
is  the  beginning  of  knowledge:  but 
fools  despise  wisdom  and  instruction." 
(Prov.  1:7)  We  can  point  out  many 
instances  wherein  the  Lord  is  revealing 
His  mind  and  will  to  those  who  have 
been  anointed  to  guide  and  direct  the 
destiny  of  this  great  work. 

Seven  years  have  elapsed  since  the 
Presidency  of  the  Church  requested 
stakes,  wards,  and  Priesthood  quorums 
to  set  in  motion  the  great  Welfare 
Program.  Well  do  I  recall  there  were 
those  among  us  who  doubted  that  such 
a  plan  was  necessary  and  feasible.  For, 
on  one  hand,  those  in  governmental 
positions  advised  and  counseled  the 
people  to  destroy  food  surpluses. 
Farmers  were  paid  for  crops  that  were 
not  produced.  And  yet  in  the  face  of 
such  counsel  and  advice  the  leadership 
of  the  Church  admonished  us  to  pro- 
duce greater  abundances  of  foods  and 
to  erect  storehouses  wherein  this  food 
could  be  stored.  There  have  since  been 
erected  milk-processing  plants,  grain 
elevators,  and  sewing  centers  which  af- 
ford sufficient  food,  fuel,  clothing,  and 
shelter  to  care  for  every  worthy  mem- 
ber of  the  Church  in  case  of  an  emer- 
gency. 

Seven  years  of  plenty,  of  abundance, 
are  about  to  come  to  an  end,  and  we 
may  face  seven  years  of  leanness  and 
the  possibility  of  famine.  The  best  au- 
thorities in  the  United  States  are  now 
indicating  that  a  food  shortage  for  the 
year  1943  is  not  a  remote  possibility 
due  to  several  conditions,  too  many  to 
enumerate  at  this  time.  In  retrospect 
we  can  all  go  back  in  our  minds  and 
consider  the  counsel  of  the  brethren 
with  reference  to  this  matter  and  ob- 
serve present-day  conditions,  which 
definitely  prove  that  the  Welfare  Pro- 
gram was  the  mind  and  the  will  of  the 
Lord  made  known  through  the  power 
of  inspiration  and  modern-day  revela- 
tion to  His  people.  With  the  passing 
of  time,  as  was  the  case  with  the  declar- 
ations given  Moses  on  Sinai  for  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel,  the  leadership  of  this  peo- 
ple will  be  vindicated  in  all  of  their  ad- 
monishments to  the  people,  and  man 
will  again  be  convinced  that  the  Lord 
has  and  does  reveal  His  mind  and  will 
to  the  prophets  of  modern  times. 

The  message  of  the  First  Presidency 
delivered  to  the  people  in  April  of  this 
year  and  the  message  delivered  this 
morning  are  revelations  to  the  people, 
for  they  contain  all  of  those  great  truths 
which  are  compatible  with  the  mind 
and  will  of  our  Heavenly  Father.  I 
am  grateful  to  say  that  when  instruc- 
tions are  given  by  the  First  Presidency 
of  the  Church  and  the  Quorum  of  the 
Twelve,  there  comes  to  mind  the  reve- 
lation given  to  the  Prophet  Joseph 
Smith,  wherein  the  Lord  had  this  to  say 
when  His  servants  spoke  to  the  people: 
"And  whatsoever  they  shall  speak 
when  moved  upon  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
(Continued  on  page  744) 
743 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  SATURDAY  EVENING 


JOSEPH  L  WIRTHUN 

(Continued  from  page  743) 
shall  be  scripture,  shall  be  the  will  of 
the  Lord,  .  .  .  shall  be  the  voice  of  the 
Lord  and  the  power  of  God  unto  sal- 
vation." (Doc.  &  Cov.  68:4)  There 
is  a  test  for  modern-day  revelation,  the 
same  test  Jesus  Christ  invited  those 
who  heard  His  teachings  to  apply,  for 
said  He:  "My  doctrine  is  not  mine,  but 
his  that  sent  me.  If  any  man  will  do 
his  will,  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine 
whether  it  be  of  God,  or  whether  I 
speak  of  myself."    (John  7:16-17) 

As  leaders  in  Israel,  brethren,  we 
should  accept  wholeheartedly  modern- 
day  revelation  as  presented  to  the  peo- 
ple by  His  chosen  servants,  applying 
it  in  our  lives  to  the  end  that  we  shall 
be  a  shining  example  to  all  of  those 
who  come  under  our  direction — ad- 
monishing the  people  that  they,  too, 
can  know  of  the  doctrine,  modern-day 
revelation,   by   following   the  admoni- 


tion of  the  Lord  when  He  declared: 
"Therefore,  if  you  will  ask  of  me  you 
shall  receive;  if  you  will  knock  it  shall 
be  opened  unto  you.  Now,  as  you  have 
asked,  behold,  I  say  unto  you,  keep  my 
commandments,  and  seek  to  bring  forth 
and  establish  the  cause  of  Zion.  Seek 
not  for  riches  but  for  wisdom;  and, 
behold,  the  mysteries  of  God  shall  be 
unfolded  unto  you,  and  then  shall  you 
be  made  rich.  Behold,  he  that  hath 
eternal  life  is  rich."  (Doc.  &  Cov.  11: 
5-7)  And  eternal  life  can  only  be 
achieved,  brethren,  not  alone  by  obey- 
ing the  principles  of  the  gospel  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  but  by  hearkening 
unto  the  advice  and  counsel  of  those 
who  are  in  authority  that  come  to  us 
as  modern-day  revelation. 

May  God  bless  us,  strengthen  us, 
that  we  may  ever  be  loyal  and  devoted 
to  these  servants  of  the  Lord,  sustaining 
them  in  all  that  they  request  us  to  do, 
I  pray  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen. 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  THIRD  SESSION 


MARION  G. 
ROMNEY 

Assistant  to  the  Twelve 

Delivered    at    the    Saturday    Evening 

Session  of  the  \\3th  Semi-annual  Gen- 

erat  Conference,   October  3,    1942,    in 

the  Tabernacle. 

Ye  are  a  chosen  generation,  a  royal 
priesthood,  an  holy  nation,  a  peculiar  peo- 
ple; that  ye  should  shew  forth  the  praises 
of  him  who  hath  called  you  out  of  dark- 
ness into  his  marvelous  light.  (I  Peter  2:9) 

No  one  can  look  into  the  faces  of 
this  extraordinary  body  of  men 
and  partake  of  the  spirit  present 
without  being  conscious  that  there  is 
here  a  power  not  usually  felt  in  gather- 
ings of  like  numbers. 

The  source  of  this  power  is,  of 
course,  the  Priesthood.  Each  of  us 
bearing  the  Priesthood,  as  we  do,  there 
should  be  power  in  our  gatherings,  for 
as  Peter  wrote  to  the  Saints  in  his  day, 
so  with  equal  truth  it  may  be  said  of 
us,  we  "are  a  chosen  generation,  a  roy- 
al Priesthood,"  and  it  is  our  calling 
and  opportunity  to  "shew  forth  the 
praises  of  him  who  hath  called  us  out 
of  darkness  unto  his  marvelous  light." 

All  who  have  received  the  gospel 
have  come  from  darkness  into  light, 
but  we,  who  have  been  invited  to  this 
conference,  have  been  called,  also,  to 
leadership  in  the  Priesthood;  to  be  of- 
ficers in  the  government  of  God;  to  re- 
sponsibility in  a  well-defined  field  of 
action  in  which  no  one  else  can  func- 
tion so  long  as  we  hold  the  appoint- 
ment. 

Yesterday,  the  responsibility  of  lead- 
ership was  borne  by  our  fathers;  to- 
morrow, it  will  rest  upon  our  children; 
744 


today,  it  is  ours.  It  is  now  that  we 
should  feel  the  weight  of  our  callings. 
As  we  labor  in  the  Church,  two  ob- 
servations force  themselves  upon  us. 
One  is  that  there  is  great  strength  and 
devotion  among  the  membership  of  the 
Church.  No  one  can  visit  among  the 
branches,  wards,  and  stakes  and  see  the 
amount  of  work  that  is  done  and  the 


MARION  G.  ROMNEY 

time  freely  given  to  service  in  the  ac- 
tivities of  the  Priesthood  quorums  and 
auxiliaries  without  being  impressed 
with  this  strength  and  devotion.  It 
makes  one,  with  the  spirit  of  this  lat- 
ter-day work,  thrill  to  be  a  part  of  it. 
The  other  observation  is  of  quite  a 
different  nature.  It  comes  when  the 
individual  records  of  members  are  ex- 
amined. They  show  that  in  nearly 
every  Priesthood  quorum  in  the 
Church  there  is  a  large  percentage  of 
our  brethren  who  count  the  high  honor 


of  being  ordained  to  the  Priesthood  as 
a  thing  of  naught;  who  enjoy  not  its 
blessings  because  they  magnify  not 
their  callings.  If  they  continue  in  their 
course,  they  stand  in  jeopardy  of  losing 
their  right  to  the  Priesthood. 

I  call  these  well-known  facts  to 
your  attention,  because  I  am  persuaded 
that  if  this  great  host  of  inactive  breth- 
ren are  ever  to  be  awakened,  if  they 
are  ever  to  be  called  again  "out  of 
darkness  into  His  marvelous  light,"  it 
must  be  done  by  more  effective  action 
on  the  part  of  Priesthod  quorum  presi- 
dencies and  their  committees. 

HpHE  Priesthood  quorum  is  an  indis- 
A  pensable  unit  of  the  Church.  The 
presidencies  of  Priesthood  quorums 
have  the  responsibility  to  see  that  every 
member  of  their  quorums  honors  his 
calling  in  the  Priesthood,  and  they,  with 
their  quorum  committees,  can  labor 
with  every  member  if  they  but  have 
"the  will  so  to  do."  Instructions  as  to 
how  to  proceed  have  been  and  will  be 
given.  They  should  be  studied  and 
followed,  in  order  that  our  activities 
may  be  purposeful;  but  no  instructions, 
and  no  program,  can  take  the  place  of 
"A  Will  To  Do." 

We  Priesthood  officers  must  shake 
off  our  apathy.  With  the  prize  of  eter- 
nal life  for  our  brethren  and  ourselves 
at  stake,  we  must  not  falter.  The  Priest- 
hood we  bear  is  not  of  men.  Joseph 
Smith  the  Prophet  received  it  direct 
from  heavenly  messengers.  He  was  in- 
structed by  them,  and  he  labored  with 
all  the  energy  of  his  soul  to  carry  out 
those  instructions. 

We  bear  the  same  Priesthood  he 
bore;  we  are  called  to  service  in  that 
Priesthood  as  was  he;  and  we  must 
discharge  the  responsibilities  laid  upon 
us  in  like  manner,  if  we  would  share 
with  him  in  the  rewards.  Unto  us  the 
Lord  has  said: 

Wherefore,  now  let  every  man  learn  his 
duty,  and  to  act  in  the  office  in  which  he  is 
appointed,  in  all  diligence. 

He  that  is  slothful  shall  not  be  counted 
worthy  to  stand,  and  he  that  learns  not  his 
duty  and  shows  himself  not  approved  shall 
not  be  counted  worthy  to  stand.  (D.  &  C. 
107:99-100) 

Would  that  every  officer  in  the 
Priesthood  quorums  could  approach 
his  labors  with  the  spirit  and  determina- 
tion of  Nephi.  When  his  brothers 
murmured  about  going  for  the  brass 
plates,  saying  it  was  a  hard  thing  that 
was  required  of  them,  he  said  to  his 
father : 

I  will  go  and  do  the  things  which  the 
Lord  hath  commanded,  for  I  know  that  the 
Lord  giveth  no  commandments  unto  the 
children  of  men,  save  he  shall  prepare  a  way 
for  them  that  they  may  accomplish  the 
thing  which  he  commandeth  them.  (I  Nephi 
3:7) 

Then  after  Laman's  futile  attempt  to 
obtain  the  plates,  and  he  and  Lemuel 
were  about  to  return  to  their  father, 
Nephi  said: 

As  the  Lord  liveth,  and  as  we  live,  we  will 
not  go  down  unto  our  father  in  the  wilder- 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  SATURDAY  EVENING 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


MARION  G.  ROMNEY 

ness  until  we  have  accomplished  the  thing 
which  the  Lord  hath  commanded  us.  (I 
Nephi3:15) 

Observe  that  he  did  not  complain 
that  the  assignment  was  difficult,  that 
he  had  other  work  which  took  all  his 
time,  that  they  had  done  the  best  they 
could,  nor  that  they  had  called  on 
Laban  once  and  that  it  would  be  use- 
less to  call  on  him  again.  What  he  said 
was  that,  "As  the  Lord  liveth  .  .  .  we 
will  not  go  .  .  .  until  we  have  accom- 
plished the  thing  which  the  Lord  hath 
commanded  us." 

'"Phe  manner  in  which  he  obtained  the 
plates  is  a  familiar  story,  as  is  the 
manner  in  which  he  obtained  wild  game 
for  food  when  all  their  bows  were 
broken.  Everything  he  set  his  hand 
to  do  in  righteousness,  he  accomplished. 
Why?  Because  he  had  the  faith,  and  the 
courage,  and  the  "will  to  do"  what  the 
Lord  required  of  him,  until  finally  he 
could  say,  when  his  brothers  ridiculed 
him  for  undertaking  to  build  the  ship: 

If  God  had  commanded  me  to  do  all 
things,  I  could  do  them.  If  he  should  com- 
mand me  that  I  should  say  unto  this  water, 
be  thou  earth,  it  would  be  earth;  and  if  I 
should  say  it,  it  would  be  done.  (I  Nephi 
17:50) 

The  Lord  help  us,  in  this  Priesthood 
quorum  activity,  to  approach  our  work 
with  the  spirit  of  Nephi,  that  we  may 
indeed  be  "  a  chosen  generation,  a  royal 
Priesthood,  an  holy  nation,  a  peculiar 
people";  and  that  we  may  by  our  works 
"shew  forth  the  praises  of  him  who 
hath  called'-'  us  "out  of  darkness  into 
his  marvelous  light,"  I  pray. 

ANTOINE  R. 
IVINS 

of  the  First  Council  of  the  Seventy 

Delivered    at    the    Saturday    Evening 
Session  of  the  \\3th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,   in 
the  Tabernacle. 

IT  is  a  thrilling  sight,  brethren,  to  stand 
here  and  look  into  your  faces,  so 
many  fine  and  wonderful  men,  many 
of  whom  I  know  personally.  I  hope  that 
you  will  give  me  your  faith  and  prayers 
that  the  very  few  minutes  that  I  occupy 
of  your  time  I  may  be  prompted  by  the 
Lord  in  what  I  say. 

Some  of  you  were  amused  at  the  last 
conference  in  April  when  I  remarked 
that  we  needed  a  few  seventies  to  give 
the  congregation  complexion.  Tonight 
we  have  a  large  representation  of  that 
group  of  the  Melchizedek  Priesthood. 
Unless  it  might  be  the  high  councilmen 
of  the  stakes  who  are  present,  perhaps 
the  presidents  of  seventies  quorums 
form  the  largest  group  here,  and  we  who 
stand  at  their  head  pledge  to  the  Presi- 


dency of  this  Church  the  loyal  support 
of  that  group  of  men. 

If  you  will  read  the  107th  Section  of 
the  Doctrine  and  Covenants  you  will 
learn  that  they  have  a  very  special  call- 
ing. Their  calling  is  to  walk  behind  the 
Council  of  the  Twelve  in  carrying  the 
message  of  redemption  to  the  people  of 
the  world;  and  if  the  Church  didn't  have 
that  charge  and  that  calling  I  think  this 


ANTOINE  R.  IVINS 

group  never  would  have  been  organized 
in  the  Church  at  all. 

We  try  to  impress  upon  every  man 
who  is  ordained  into  the  seventies  quo- 
rums that  that  is  his  calling  and  that  if 
he  will  not  exercise  that  function  he  has 
no  right  to  come  into  this  group  of  men. 
They  should  be  the  missionaries  of  the 
Church.  They  should  be  the  predomi- 
nating element  in  any  missionary  group 
in  the  Church.  Now  we  have  two  min- 
istries of  that  type,  the  foreign  mission 
ministry  and  a  stake  mission  ministry, 
all  of  the  same  type  and  class  except  in 
some  minor  details,  and  we  now  are  in- 
terested very  much  in  that  stake  mission 
work  of  this  Church.  It  is  proving  to 
be  such  a  wonderful  and  magnificent 
work  that  we  are  overjoyed  with  the 
success  that  we  have  realized  in  the 
past.  But  we  are  worried  now,  breth- 
ren, because  we  note  a  falling  off  in  that 
effort.  We  are  short  this  year  about 
six  hundred  missionaries  as  compared 
with  last  year.  We  are  short  from  the 
seventies  six  or  seven  percent  of  that 
missionary  group.  We  would  like  to 
ask  you  presidents  who  are  here  when 
you  return  to  use  your  influence  in  re- 
cruiting from  your  ranks  other  seventies 
who  can  go  into  that  work. 

TvTow,  there  is  no  more  magnificent 

^  work  in  the  Church  than  to  testify 

that  Christ  our  Lord  came  to  earth  to 

redeem  mankind,  and  that  is  the  very 


special  calling  of  you  brethren,  the 
seventies.  You  testify  to  that  by  word 
of  mouth,  but  you  also  do  it  by  the  ex- 
ample which  you  live.  And  perhaps  of 
the  two  the  more  potent  is  the  example 
that  one  sets.  We  believe  that  the 
reason  that  conversions  are  made  among 
the  stakes  of  Zion  more  easily  than  in 
outside  countries  is  that  the  people  of 
the  Church  live  the  principles  of  the 
gospel  and  that  there  is  radiated  from 
them  a  light  which  people  not  of  our 
faith  can  see,  and  perhaps  see  more 
readily  than  we  ourselves;  so  we  ask 
you  who  are  missionaries  in  this  stake 
work,  as  well  as  foreign  countries,  to 
show  by  your  lives  that  there  is  power 
and  efficacy  and  virtue  in  the  gospel  of 
Jesus  Christ. 

We  appeal  to  the  bishops  and  the 
presidencies  of  stakes  to  give  us  the  men 
and  the  women  we  need  for  this  work. 
They  are  just  as  essential  as  any  other 
work  we  undertake,  and  we  are  depen- 
dent upon  you  brethren  to  supply  them 
for  us.  All  our  stake  mission  presidents 
can  do  in  that  respect  is  to  ask  for  a 
group.  It  is  your  problem  to  supply 
them.  And  be  not  afraid,  brethren,  to 
give  us  men  of  quality  and  capabilities 
especially  adapted  to  this  work.  They 
are  much  more  successful  than  the  ones 
who  have  had  no  experience,  who  have 
no  liking  for  the  work.  A  man  to  be  a 
successful  missionary  must  have  his 
heart  and  soul  in  that  work.  We  pray 
that  you  will  give  us  the  type  of  men 
and  women  that  we  need. 

Now,  in  this  particular  emergency 
which  has  lessened  our  group,  we  are 
finding  that  our  wives  and  our  daughters 
are  one  of  our  most  effective  missionary 
elements.  If  you  can't  supply  us  men, 
increase  our  numbers  by  giving  us  good 
women.  We  will  take  excellent  care 
of  them.  We  will  give  them  an  oppor- 
tunity that  they  cannot  have  otherwise, 
likely — an  experience  which  will  broad- 
en them  and  strengthen  them  and  help 
them.  Those  of  them  who  are  unmar- 
ried will  make  better  mothers,  and  those 
of  them  who  are  already  mothers  will 
go  to  the  work  with  an  experience  that 
will  qualify  them  for  it. 

Brethren,  it  is  an  important  work  and 
we  have  that  responsibility.  It  is  the 
charge  that  has  been  given  to  the 
Twelve  in  every  age  when  the  gospel 
has  been  established,  and  it  is  our 
greatest  purpose  to  carry  to  people  who 
have  not  learned  of  the  truth  a  light 
which  will  lead  them  back  into  the  pres- 
ence of  God  our  Heavenly  Father.  Will 
you,  then,  give  us  the  aid  and  the  sup- 
port that  we  need  that  this  work  may 
not  falter;  that  it  may  not  go  forth  halt- 
ingly but  that  it  may  go  with  a  tread  so 
firm  that  nothing  can  impede  its  pro- 
gress and  that  many  people  may  be  gar- 
nered into  the  Church  to  receive  of  these 
wonderful  benefits  and  blessings  of 
which  we  have  heard  this  evening, 

God  bless  you  all  I  pray  in  the  name 
of  Jesus.    Amen. 

(Continued  on  page  746) 
745 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  SATURDAY  EVENING 


(Continued  from  page  745) 

JOHN  H.TAYLOR 

of  the  First  Council  of  the  Seventy 

Delivered    at    the    Saturday    Evening 
Session  of  the  \\3th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle. 

The  Lord  has  said,  "I  have  warned 
you  and  forewarned  you" — He 
has  warned  us  again  today 
through  His  servants.  Perhaps  some  of 
us  will  continue  to  say  that  there  is  a 
tomorrow  when  we  will  repent  and  lead 
a  finer  life,  but  we  all  know  that  as  far 
as  each  one  of  us  is  concerned  the  time 
comes  when  for  us  there  is  no  tomor- 
row. The  Lord  has  also  said  that  today 
is  the  time  to  repent. 

You  remember  that  the  Lord  told  His 
prophet,  Noah,  that  he  should  go  out 
and  warn  the  people  and  tell  them  of 
the  coming  destruction.  But  the  people, 
seemingly  because  they  thought  there 
would  always  be  a  tomorrow  and  be- 
cause the  floods  did  not  come  that  day 
or  the  next  day,  thought  they  would 
never  come;  therefore,  they  ridiculed 
the  prophets  and  went  their  way.  But 
the  floods  came  and  they  were  de- 
stroyed, because  they  would  not  listen 
to  the  prophets  of  the  Lord. 


JOHN   H.  TAYLOR 

I  remember  hearing  a  story  of  a  man 
who  had  just  lost  his  oldest  son.  The 
father  was  not  a  very  religious  man. 
In  fact,  he  had  disregarded  most  of  the 
Lord's  commandments.  Because  of  his 
son's  being  called  to  the  other  side,  a 
good  man  went  into  the  house  to  talk 
with  the  father  and  to  the  family.  The 
son  had  been  unfaithful  in  every  way. 
He  had  been  disobedient  unto  his  par- 
ents, to  his  country,  to  his  God.  As  the 
good  man  talked  with  the  father  and  the 
family,  the  father  said,  "I  think  that  this 
746 


is  a  time  for  prayer."  Perhaps  we  all 
think  that  only  when  the  emergency 
comes  to  us  it  is  the  time  to  pray.  The 
efficiency  of  a  prayer  is  dependent  on 
the  type  of  life  we  have  lived  and  the 
way  we  have  made  progress  upon  the 
earth.  When  the  time  comes  for  the 
summons,  to  ourselves  or  to  our  family, 
if  we  have  not  repented,  if  we  have  not 
done  the  things  that  should  have  been 
done,  the  praying  comes  rather  late. 

I  trust,  brethren,  that  as  we  continue 
traveling  along  the  way  of  life,  we  will 
try  to  do  the  things  that  God  through 
His  servants  wants  us  to  do.  The  time 
is  short  and  there  is  no  telling  when  it 
might  be  too  late  for  us  to  repent  and 
do  the  things  that  we  ought  to  do.  It  is 
very  easy  in  an  emergency,  such  as  we 
have  in  war  today,  to  build  big  build- 
ings and  to  make  steel  and  to  make  air- 
planes and  to  build  hospitals.  Perhaps 
we  can  do  these  things  in  a  material 
way,  but  we  cannot  all  of  a  sudden 
build  character,  build  decent  homes,  or 
have  a  family  who  have  such  confidence 
in  us  that  they  will  listen  to  our  words 
and  listen  to  the  words  of  the  servants 
of  the  Lord. 

May  we  be  humble  as  we  live  upon 
the.  earth.  May  we  repent  of  our  sins. 
May  we  take  this  message  seriously  as 
it  comes  to  us  today,  and  live  better  and 
finer  than  we  have  ever  lived  before,  I 
humbly  pray  in  Jesus'  name.    Amen. 

SAMUEL  O. 
BENNION 

of  the  First  Council  of  the  Seventy 

Delivered    at    the    Saturday    Evening 
Session  of  the  l\3th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,   in 
the  Tabernacle. 

One  of  the  most  important  docu- 
ments that  I  have  read  is  the 
message  which  was  delivered  by 
the  First  Presidency  last  spring.  Today 
we  have  had  another  equally  impor- 
tant message.  These  brethren  are  in- 
spired of  the  Lord.  I  don't  know  where 
we  could  find  such  writing  outside  of 
Holy  Writ  itself,  and  to  me  it  is  Holy 
Writ.  We  have  been  called  to  keep 
the  commandments  of  God  and  to  walk 
uprightly  before  Him.  If  this  great 
body  of  Priesthood  will  yield  to  the  per- 
suasion of  these  brethren  and  set  the 
proper  example,  there  will  certainly  be 
an  influence  for  good  in  this  great  land 
that  never  has  been  felt  before,  for  here 
is  the  strength  of  God,  the  strength  of 
the  Holy  Priesthood,  vested  in  this 
Church. 

I  often  think  of  the  words  of  the 
great  Solomon  who  said,  "As  a  man 
thinketh  in  his  heart,  so  is  he."  Men 
who  have  it  in  their  hearts  to  keep  the 
commandments  of  God,  will  keep  them. 
They  will  not  commit  adultery  who  say 
and  feel  that  it  is  a  sin  akin  to  murder,  a 
thing  the  Lord  has  said  we  shall  not  do. 
Such  men  will  not  steal,  they  will  not 


lie,  they  will  not  bear  false  witness,  or 
violate  the  Sabbath  day.  Men  will  not 
leave  the  work  of  God  undone  if  they 
feel  in  their  hearts  that  it  is  the  thing 
for  them  to  do. 

Brethren,  there  never  was  a  time  that 
was  more  opportune  for  us  than  right 
now.  There  will  never  be  another 
time  when  we  will  be  enjoying  this 
earthly  existence.  This  is  your  day 
and  mine.  We  will  never  go  through 
this  world  again  as  we  are  now.    We 


SAMUEL  0.  BENNION 

are  here  writing  our  history.  We  write 
it  every  day  and  there  can  be  no  change. 
As  we  write  it,  that  is  the  way  it  will 
be.  We  write  it  by  our  lives.  No  mat- 
ter what  our  vocation  is,  no  matter 
where  we  are,  there  is  nothing  that  will 
build  us  more  surely  and  make  us 
stronger  than  an  assurance  that  we 
have  the  truth.  As  we  work  in  our 
fields  or  in  our  homes,  in  our  shops  or 
in  our  offices,  let  us  keep  in  mind  this 
thought:  This  is  the  work  of  God  that 
I  am  engaged  in. 

I  know  that  the  Lord,  our  Eternal 
Father,  appeared  to  Joseph  Smith  and 
introduced  to  him  the  Savior  of  the 
world  and  said  unto  him,  "This  is 
my  beloved  Son — hear  Him."  If  we 
will  keep  in  our  minds  all  the  time  that 
the  Priesthood  of  the  Son  of  God  is  in 
the  earth  and  that  the  same  leadership 
that  was  introduced  to  the  Prophet 
Joseph  Smith  is  here;  if  we  will  reflect 
constantly  upon  the  high  standard  of 
living  and  teachings  that  have  been 
ours  from  the  days  of  Joseph  until  now; 
and  if  we  will  remember  that  there  has 
never  been  a  wavering  in  any  way  in 
the  leadership  of  this  Church,  we  can- 
not help  feeling  in  our  hearts  and  souls 
that  this  is  the  work  of  God.  If  we 
do  that  we  will  be  strong  and  we  will 
be  able  to  carry  on  as  the  Lord  would 
have  us  do.  We  will  not  be  weak, 
and  we  will  not  be  tossed  to  and  fro 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  SATURDAY  EVENING 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,    1942 


SAMUEL  O.  BENNION 

by  every  wind  of  doctrine,  but  we  will 
feel  in  our  hearts  to  know  the  truth. 
We  will  understand  the  course  we 
should  take  and  the  opinion  that  we 
should  express;  we  will  know  that  we 
are  the  Lord's  chosen  people. 

I  am  thankful  for  the  testimony  that 
I  have,  for  the  privilege  of  laboring  in 
a  small  way  in  this  great  Church  of 
Christ  on  this  earth  in  this  dispensation; 
I  rejoice  that  I  have  been  permitted  to 
take  a  part  in  building  this  western  com- 
monwealth. I  know  that  is  the  feeling 
of  every  true  Latter-day  Saint.  I  pray 
the  Lord  to  bless  the  leadership  of  this 
Church,  for  this  Church  is  led  by  a 
prophet  of  the  living  God  who  was 
raised  up  for  this  very  purpose.  He 
stands  as  a  monument  in  faith  and  ex- 
pression of  that  code  of  living  which,  I 
want  to  say  to  you  brethren,  commands 
the  respect  of  all  honorable  men  and 
women  everywhere  when  they  become 
acquainted  with  the  facts  and  know  us 
as  we  are.  These  are  the  things  we 
should  keep  in  our  minds,  and  if  we 
do,  we  will  not  be  weak  and  we  will 
not  fail,  but  we  will  die  worthy  men, 
Latter-day  Saints  in  full  fellowship.  To 
this  end  I  pray,  in  the  name  of  Jesus. 
Amen. 

GEORGE  ALBERT  SMITH 

(Concluded  from  page  702) 

ing  the  only  key  to  exaltation  in  the 
celestial  kingdom  of  our  Heavenly  Fa- 
ther. I  wonder  if  we  appreciate  it.  If 
we  do  we  should  evidence  it  by  teach- 
ing others.  Let  us  set  our  homes  in 
order.  Let  our  lights  so  shine  that  our 
neighbors  who  are  not  of  this  Church 
may  see  our  upright  lives  and  be  con- 
strained to  glorify  the  name  of  the  Lord. 
Let  us  so  adjust  ourselves  in  our  busi- 
ness affairs  that  we  will  be  known  for 
our  virtues  and  for  our  integrity.  Let 
our  homes  be  the  abiding  place  of  pray- 
er and  let  our  premises  indicate  that  we 
rejoice  in  living  in  our  homes.  Let  us 
set  the  example  to  the  world  that  the 
world  needs,  that  of  a  choice,  sweet, 
wholesome  surrounding  in  the  place 
that  we  call  home. 

I  am  glad  to  be  identified  with  this 
group  of  men  here  tonight.  I  thank  you, 
my  brethren,  for  the  joy  that  has  come 
into  my  life  as  a  result  of  this  compan- 
ionship, I  have  been  privileged  above 
many  other  men  in  the  world.  I  am 
thankful  for  it.  I  am  not  inclined  to 
boast  about  it,  but  I  do  feel  grateful  to 
my  Heavenly  Father  that  all  my  life  I 
have  had  the  privilege  of  associating 
with  the  best  boys  and  girls  and  the 
best  men  and  women  that  I  could  find  in 
the  world,  and  it  has  not  been  neces- 
sary for  me  to  seek  my  pleasure  and 
my  company  and  my  education  among 
those  who  are  evil-minded.  Tonight, 
with  gratitude  in  my  heart,  and  with 
thanksgiving  I  associate  with  these  men, 
the  General  Authorities  of  the  Church, 
these  men  who  preside  over  the  stakes 
and  wards  of  Zion — these  men  who  are 


seeking  to  build  the  quorums  of  the 
Priesthood  as  they  ought  to  be — thank- 
ful that  I  belong  to  this  group  and  pray 
that  as  the  days  go  on  and  as  the  op- 
portunities are  presented  that  I  may 
do  my  part.  That  I  may  be  worthy  of 
this  fellowship  and  this  membership, 
not  only  here  but  throughout  the  ages 
of  eternity,  and  that  we  may  all  be  so 
blessed  I  humbly  pray,  in  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ,  our  Lord.    Amen. 

CLIFFORD  E. 


YOUNG 


Assistant  to  the  Twelve 
Delivered    at    the    Saturday    Evening 
Session  of  the  113th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,    1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle. 


CLIFFORD  E.  YOUNG 

IT  was  a  hundred  years  ago  that 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  came  to  Nau- 
voo  to  visit  the  Prophet  Joseph.  He 
had  previously  been  employed  as  coun- 
sel in  some  litigation  in  which  the  Proph- 
et was  involved,  and  was  a  very  warm 
friend  of  his.  As  he  surveyed  that 
lovely  city,  Nauvoo  (in  1843  it  was 
the  largest  city  in  Illinois,  with  a  popu- 
lation upwards  of  twenty  thousand  peo- 
ple) he  saw  the  orderliness,  the  mag- 
netic power  that  the  Prophet  seemed  to 
have  with  his  people,  and  he  is  said  to 
have  remarked  that  if  he  could  command 
the  leadership  that  the  Prophet  Joseph 
had,  he  would  lead  a  group  of  people 
to  the  Northwest  and  give  up  his  politi- 
cal career.  He  was  then  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  in  Washington. 

There  is  one  thing,  however,  that 
Douglas  seems  to  have  overlooked. 
We  sang  today  "A  Poor  Wayfaring 
Man  of  Grief."  The  Prophet  Joseph 
was  in  prison.  Everything  that  he 
possessed,  apparently,  was  in  the  hands 


of  his  enemies,  but  there  was  something 
that  was  still  within  his  own  soul — 
there  was  something  that  he  still  pos- 
sessed that  Stephen  A.  Douglas  had 
not  recognized.  He  could,  in  the  face 
of  his  enemy,  in  the  face  of  persecution, 
conscious  of  martyrdom — he  could  still 
sing  with  Brother  Taylor,  at  least  in  his 
heart,  that  lovely  hymn,  a  hymn  of  char- 
ity, a  hymn  of  kindness,  a  hymn  of 
forgiveness,  even  of  his  enemy.  That 
was  something  that  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
las didn't  detect.  Stephen  A.  Douglas 
didn't  detect,  either,  that  same  attitude 
of  spirit  that  the  Prophet  Joseph  had, 
when  in  Liberty  Jail  there  came  to  him 
through  the  revelation  of  Almighty  God 
that  marvelous  prayer  in  which  he  in- 
structed the  Priesthood,  an  injunction 
that  stands  for  you  and  me  today : 

No  power  or  influence  can  or  ought  to 
be  maintained  by  virtue  of  the  priesthood, 
only  by  persuasion,  by  long-suffering,  by 
gentleness  and  meekness,  and  by  love  un- 
feigned; 

By  kindness,  and  pure  knowledge,  which 
shall  greatly  enlarge  the  soul  without  hy- 
pocrisy, and  without  guile — 

Reproving  betimes  with  sharpness,  when 
moved  upon  by  the  Holy  Ghost;  and  then 
showing  forth  afterwards  an  increase  of 
love  toward  him  whom  thou  hast  reproved, 
lest  he  esteem  thee  to  be  his  enemy; 

That  he  may  know  that  thy  faithfulness 
is  stronger  than  the  cords  of  death.  (D.  &  C. 
121:41-44) 

Then  in  instruction  to  his  people — 
and  mind  you  he  was  in  prison,  in  a 
dingy,  dirty,  prison,  restrained  as  far 
as  the  physical  part  of  him  was  con- 
cerned; everything  taken  away  from 
him,  in  the  bigness  of  his  soul  he  said: 

Let  thy  bowels  also  be  full  of  charity 
towards  all  men,  and  to  the  household  of 
faith,  and  let  virtue  garnish  thy  thoughts 
unceasingly;  then  shall  thy  confidence  wax 
strong  in  the  presence  of  God;  and  the  doc- 
trine of  the  priesthood  shall  distil  upon  thy 
soul  as  the  dews  from  heaven. 

The  Holy  Ghost  shall  be  thy  constant 
companion,  and  thy  scepter  an  unchanging 
scepter  of  righteousness  and  truth;  and  thy 
dominion  shall  be  an  everlasting  dominion, 
and  without  compulsory  means  it  shall  flow 
unto  thee  forever  and  ever.  (D.  &  C.  121 : 
45-46) 

It  was  this,  my  brethren,  it  was  this 
attribute  that  was  manifest  in  Carthage 
Jail  that  Stephen  A.  Douglas  never  felt. 
He  saw  only,  but  he  did  not  feel.  Thai 
is  one  reason  why  today  it  is  recognized 
by  people  around  us  that  there  is  a  big- 
ness in  the  coming  together,  as  we  do 
here  on  these  occasions  of  the  general 
conference,  but  those  who  do  not  know 
as  we  know  do  not  sense  the  bigness  of 
this  thing.  They  do  not  know  what  it 
is  that  impels  men  to  come  hundreds 
of  miles  in  answer  to  a  call  such  as  this. 
They  do  not  know  what  it  is  that  impels 
men  in  our  outlying  stakes  to  give  their 
all,  almost,  for  the  benefit  of  their 
brethren,  to  help  build  up  their  social 
life,  their  physical  life,  and,  above  all, 
their  spiritual  life.  These  are  the  things 
that  men  do  not  realize  when  they  come 
in  our  midst.  These  are  the  things  that 
(Continued  on  page  748) 
747 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  SATURDAY  EVENING 


CLIFFORD  E.  YOUNG 

(Continued  from  page  747) 
men  did  not  realize  when  they  came 
to  Nauvoo,  in  the  days  of  the  Prophet 
Joseph.  They  saw  merely  the  external, 
not  the  internal;  but  there  is  a  power 
here  that  you  and  I  feel,  and  we  are 
grateful  to  God  tonight  for  it,  for  the 
testimony  that  God  has  given  us  of  the 
divinity  of  this  work,  and  I  rejoice  with 
you  in  it  with  all  my  heart,  in  the  name 
of  Jesus  Christ.     Amen. 

MARVIN  O. 
ASHTON 

of  the  Presiding  Bishopric 

Delivered    at    the    Saturday    Evening 
Session  of  the  \\3th  Semiannual  Gen- 
eral Conference,  October  3,   1942,  in 
the  Tabernacle. 

I  would  give  almost  anything  I  have 
if  I  could  fight  away  the  timidity 
that  comes  with  this  responsibility. 
However,  with  that  feeling,  there  is 
with  me  the  consciousness  of  the  thou- 
sands of  sympathetic  attitudes  towards 
us  who  have  this  responsibility  in  gen- 
eral conference.  If  we  did  not  enjoy 
the  music  and  the  fine  things  that  are 
said  here  on  these  occasions,  if  we  didn't 
have  those  at  all,  it  would  be  worth 
while  just  to  grasp  the  hands  of  you 
men  and  get  the  white  of  your  eyes  and 
the  spirit  that  you  carry  with  you.  I 
want  to  take  this  occasion  to  express 
my  appreciation  of  the  filial  feeling  that 
you  extend  to  us. 

As  we  go  about  visiting  you  in  the 
different  stakes,  so  far  as  some  of  us  are 
concerned,  we  wonder  just  how  much 
good  we  do.  But  there  is  one  thing  we 
are  sure  about,  and  I  have  expressed  it 
more  than  once;  we  are  sure  of  the  fine 
spirit  that  we  get  from  you,  and  it  is 
not  your  fault  if  we  don't  take  it  else- 
where. I  am  one  of  those  who  believe 
that  inspiration  goes  up  the  ladder  as 
well  as  down  the  ladder.  I  mean  that 
we  expect  and  get  inspiration  and  reve- 
lation from  our  file  leaders.  It  must  be 
that  way — that's  the  inspiration  going 
down  the  ladder.  I  am  not  unmindful, 
however,  of  the  inspiration  that  goes 
up  the  ladder  as  you  in  your  commun- 
ities, your  wards,  and  your  stakes  de- 
velop things  and  perfect  them;  then  we 
who  visit  you  get  these  ideas  and  par- 
take of  those  influences.  We  are  like 
the  bee  who  goes  from  flower  to  flower 
sipping  honey  as  we  find  it.  Unless  we 
are  altogether  dead  on  our  feet,  we  can- 
not help  scattering  the  pollen — the  pre- 
cious gems  we  find,  in  your  particular 
stakes.  Each  one  of  us  is  made  the 
better  by  virtue  of  the  attainments  and 
spirit  of  the  rest  of  us. 

I  remember  seeing,  as  a  boy,  a  pack- 
ing company's  advertisement  that  was 
on  the  billboards  of  every  city  in  the 
United  States.  I  can  see  that  picture 
now  as  vividly  as  if  it  were  yesterday. 
748 


It  was  a  herd  of  steers  being  crowded 
into  one  can  of  beef  extract.  In  other 
words,  in  every  can  were  vitamins  of 
the  herd.  Rather  a  rough  comparison, 
I  agree,  but  in  a  sense  isn't  each  one  of 
us  a  soul  of  the  virtues  of  all  of  us? 

I  am  thoroughly  convinced  that  one 
of  the  great  virtues  of  the  Church  is  that 
of  visiting  about  and  taking  the  honey, 
if  you  please,  from  flower  to  flower. 
Our  visiting  with  one  another  keeps  the 
Church  alive.  There  is  no  question 
about  it.  What  concerns  me  right  now 
is  that  these  contacts  with  one  another 
are  going  to  be  hampered.  It  is  this 
rubber  situation.  It  is  a  challenge  to 
you.  You  have  never  had  so  many  in- 
roads on  your  organizations  as  now. 
You  have  the  boys  leaving  for  the 
army,   you  have   people   going   to   the 


MARVIN  0.  ASHTON 

arms  centers,  and  last  but  not  least, 
you  have  the  people  that  are  going 
crazy  over  money.  It  is  going  to  their 
heads,  and  it  is  a  sad  picture. 

"VTou  have  often  heard  it  said,  "Liber- 
A  ty,  liberty,  how  many  crimes  are 
committed  in  thy  name?"  May  I  just 
change  that  a  little  bit?  "Oh,  rubber,  oh 
tires,  (the  want  of  them),  how  many 
crimes  of  omission  are  going  to  be  com- 
mitted in  thy  name?"  If  you  are  inactive, 
if  you  are  shirking  your  responsibilities, 
you  are  going  to  blame  it  on  the  lack 
of  rubber,  and  while  I  love  you  and 
hope  you  love  me,  I  am  not  unmindful 
of  some  of  the  conditions  we  find  in  the 
stakes.  We  find  people  who  are  not  as 
active  as  they  ought  to  be.  They  have 
a  testimony  of  the  gospel,  (at  least  they 
think  they  have) ,  but  it  stops  there.  We 
are  not  as  active  as  we  should  be.  I 
often  think  of  the  old  fellow  down  our 
way  who  used  to  get  up  on  fast  days 
and  say,  "I  just  can't  rest  until  I  have 
borne  my  testimony."  The  trouble 
with  him  was  that  he  bore  his  testimony 


the  first  part  of  the  meeting  and  then 
went  sound  asleep  and  pretty  nearly 
snored  his  head  off.  Now  are  you  do- 
ing that?  Am  I  doing  it?  It  is  one  thing 
to  have  a  testimony  and  another  thing 
to  do  something  about  it.  Don't  you 
think  that  I  have  so  little  sense  that  I 
am  speaking  disparagingly  of  the  testi- 
mony of  a  humble  person.  The  Church 
rests  on  that  kind  of  faith.  My  mother 
taught  me  at  her  knee  just  how  impor- 
tant that  is. 

To  illustrate  what  I  am  driving  at,, 
may  I  tell  a  story  that  was  told  to  us 
down  in  Lehi  at  a  recent  conference 
there.  A  good  patriarch  said  that  he 
was  asked  to  take  his  saw  and  hammer 
to  the  church  and  do  some  work.  He 
found  the  hammer,  but  he  couldn't  find 
the  saw.  He  hunted  all  over  for  it, 
and  finally  his  wife  came  to  the  rescue. 
She  said,  "Now,  Father,  if  I  were  you 
I  would  think  where  I  used  that  saw 
last,  and  I  believe  I  would  hunt  in 
that  place."  Well,  he  went  every- 
where in  search  of  the  saw.  He  looked 
high  and  low  ever  trying  to  think  where 
he  last  used  the  saw  and  praying  that 
he  might  be  guided  to  the  lost  article. 
He  climbed  on  the  roof — no  saw  in 
sight.  At  that  moment,  when  he  was 
about  to  despair,  although  it  was  a 
breezeless  day,  a  slight  stir  of  the  air 
tipped  the  saw  from  the  top  of  the  chim- 
ney. It  whirled  through  the  air  and 
stuck  in  the  shingled  roof  a  few  feet 
ahead  of  him  like  the  alighting  of  an 
arrow.  In  soliloquizing  about  this  al- 
most miraculous  restoration,  our  patri- 
arch remarked  to  us,  "I  thought  I  saw 
the  hand  of  the  Lord  in  that  saw.  But," 
emphasized  he,  "I  was  dead  sure  the 
Lord  wanted  me  to  see  the  hand  of  the 
saw."  Now,  it  is  easier  to  see  the  hand 
of  the  Lord  in  things  than  it  is  to  see 
the  hand  of  the  saw. 

Someone  has  wisely  said,  "Many  a 
man  has  made  a  false  step  by  standing 
still."  A  good  member  of  our  Church 
who  is  more  skilful  in  the  use  of  the 
baton  than  he  is  in  penmanship  stated 
that  in  giving  the  name  of  a  hymn  to 
be  sung  as,  "Sweet  and  Low,"  the 
brother  presiding  announced  it  as, 
"Sweat  and  Sow."  Rather  an  odd 
coincidence,  but  life  is  more  "sweat  and 
sow"  than  it  is  "sweet  and  low."  Do 
some  of  us  fish  on  the  sand  bar  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  the  fish  have 
moved  out  with  the  river? 

May  I  read  in  closing  this  piece  called 
"Blind  People"? 

This  is  an  age  of  readjustment.  Only 
those  capable  of  making  quick  changes  fit 
the  times.  Those  with  closed  eyes  and 
closed  minds  are  in  for  trouble.  A  blind 
man  wants  the  furniture  in  a  room  left  un- 
changed. Only  then  can  he  move  about 
with  any  degree  of  comfort  and  safety. 
Change  the  setting,  and  he  finds  himself 
bumping  into  things.  No  longer  can  he 
move  freely.  In  our  Church  there  are  many 
men  who  act  as  if  they  were  blind.  They 
too  want  no  changes  made.  They  worship 
familiar  patterns,  and  new  ideas,  new  meth- 
ods, new  personalities  cause  them  discom- 
fort. Now  is  the  time  to  remember  the  law 
of  the  survival  of  the  fittest.     We  survive 


GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  SATURDAY  EVENING 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


MARVIN  O.  ASHTON 

•or  we  perish  according  to  our  adaptability 
or  inadaptability  to  our  environment.  Each 
of  us  must  ask,  "What  changes  must  I  make 
in  my  thinking  to  fit  me  to  this  new  environ- 
ment?" 

I  am  not  in  any  sense  fighting  the  idea 
presented  by  Brother  Bo  wen.  I  think 
lie  is  just  as  right  as  he  can  be.  You 
can't  change  fundamentals.  We  have 
people  coming  in  all  around  us  by  the 
thousands.  What  are  you  doing  about 
it?  Are  we  going  to  absorb  them,  or 
are  they  going  to  absorb  us?  It  depends 
■on  our  attitude. 

May  the  Lord  help  us  to  be  broad- 
minded  and  see  the  hand  of  the  saw  and 
work  our  heads  off.    Amen. 

NICHOLAS  G. 
SMITH 

Assistant  to  the  Twelve 

Delivered    at    the    Saturday    Evening 
Session  of  the  \\3th  Semi-annual  Gen- 
eral Conference,   October  3,   1942,   in 
the  Tabernacle. 

It  is  a  marvelous  thing,  my  brethren, 
to  be  numbered  among  the  men  who 
have  been  called  to  act  in  the  name 
of  God  here  on  earth.  There  are  one 
hundred  eleven  thousand — slightly  more 
• — men  holding  the  Melchizedek  Priest- 
hood, divided  into  one  thousand  two 
hundred  six  quorums.  I  suppose  there 
are  five  thousand  of  that  number  here 
tonight,  and  you  constitute  the  leaders 
of  the  Church.  As  you  know,  my  activ- 
ity has  been  largely  in  the  mission  field. 
Since  returning  from  the  Northwestern 
States  Mission,  I  have  been  assigned  to 
read  every  Priesthood  quorum  report  in 
this  Church,  and  make  notations  as  to 
where  these  Priesthood  quorums  are 
falling  down.  It  has  been  an  interesting 
thing  to  me  to  note  that  for  the  month  of 
August  just  past,  in  activity,  the  high 
priests  quorum  of  the  San  Diego  Stake 
leads  with  eighty-two  percent  of  its 
members  active.  The  lowest  stake  in 
the  high  priests  quorums  runs  only 
twelve  percent.  All  along  between  that 
point  of  twelve  percent  and  eighty-two 
percent,  the  different  quorums  function. 
Eighty-two  percent  would  be  a  low  per- 
centage if  the  Priesthood  really  realized 
the  importance  of  their  calling  as  God's 
representatives  in  their  respective 
places,  I  am  sure. 

In  the  seventies  for  August,  Long 
Beach  Stake  led  with  seventy-four  per- 
cent of  the  seventies  active;  in  the  low- 
est stake  only  eight  percent  of  the  sev- 
enties were  active. 

Of  the  elders  in  Juarez  Stake  fifty- 
nine  percent  were  active,  and  there  were 
two  stakes  that  only  had  four  percent 
of  their  elders  active. 

"VTow  it  has  been  interesting  in  check- 

^  ing  these  reports  to  find  that  many 

of  the  questions  are  not  answered.  They 

are  slurred  over  and  the  very  reason 


for  those  reports,  of  course,  is  to  call 
to  the  attention  of  the  presidency  of  the 
quorums  wherein  they  are  failing,  and 
it  is  the  duty  of  every  presidency  of  a 
quorum  to  know  his  quorum  members' 
activity  and  to  be  closely  associated 
with  them  and  be  indeed  a  father  to  his 
brethren  and  to  show  a  great  deal  of  in- 
terest in  them.  I  have  noticed  that  prac- 
tically nothing  is  being  done  with  re- 
spect to  the  request  President  Grant 
made  some  years  ago,  that  we  work  with 
those  who  are  addicted  to  liquor  and  to- 
bacco; and  I  find  in  one  quorum  where 
there  are  forty-four  members  and  not 
one  of  them  is  reported  as  observing  the 
Word  of  Wisdom.  Now,  I  think  per- 
haps the  secretary  has  neglected  to  fill 
in  the  answer  in  his  hurry  to  get  the  job 
over.    In  other  quorums  I  find  where  a 


there,  and  it  would  be  nice  to  have  these 
things  on  file  in  the  head  offices  of  the 
Church  where  they  can  be  checked  upon 
and  known.  Surely  much  is  being  missed 
I  feel  as  I  go  amongst  you  and  feel  the 
spirit  in  your  stakes. 

God  bless  us  and  help  us  to  measure 
up  to  this  responsibility,  that  the  men 
who  hold  this  Priesthood  might  act  as 
do  their  sons  who  spend  their  time  in 
the  mission  field  and  put  in  thirteen  and 
fourteen  hours  a  day  in  doing  something 
about  the  responsibility  which  is  theirs 
is  my  prayer  in  Jesus'  name.    Amen. 


NICHOLAS  G.  SMITH 

third  of  the  quorum  members  use  liquor 
and  tobacco,  I  am  sure  that  these  things 
are  not  pleasing  to  our  Heavenly 
Father.  But  if  the  quorum  secretaries 
would  be  more  careful — if  the  presi- 
dencies of  quorums  would  check  upon 
these  questions  and  the  answers  before 
they  sign  the  reports  and  see  that  they 
are  properly  filled  out  and  if  quorums 
would  only  send  in  their  reports — we 
have  some  quorums  that  haven't  sent 
in  their  reports  all  this  year,  yet — to  me 
it  is  rather  strange  after  laboring  in  the 
mission  field,  and  having  one  hundred 
percent  response  when  you  ask  the  mis- 
sionaries to  do  something,  to  come  home 
and  work  with  the  Priesthood  and  find 
that  it  runs  as  low  as  four  percent  who 
are  active  in  some  stakes. 

Brethren,  the  gospel  is  true.  I  know 
it,  and  I  love  it.  I  love  these  men  with 
whom  I  associate.  I  love  the  stakes  and 
the  wards,  and  the  mission  fields.  I  have 
found,  wherever  I  go  among  the  stakes, 
such  a  sweet  spirit  that  I  am  sure  things 
are   not   reported  that   are   happening 


Mutual  Messages 

(Concluded  from  page  738) 

Keepers  are  only  as  far  as  your  telephone 
or  the  mailing  of  a  postal  card.  They  are 
waiting  and  eager  to  help  you  solve  your 
problems.  After  analyzing  the  success  you 
are  having  as  a  Bee-Keeper  and  you  find 
definite  weak  spots,  do  not  let  time  slide  by. 
Do  something  about  it  before  you  meet  your 
swarm  next  week.  If  stake  Bee-Keepers 
are  unable  to  assist  you,  remember  we  of  the 
general  committee  are  only  too  glad  to  help. 

3.  Membership  awards.  There  is  no 
award  in  Bee-Hive  of  which  the  group 
should  be  more  proud  than  the  M's  for  en- 
rolling one  hundred  percent  of  the  girls  Bee- 
Hive  age  within  the  ward  in  the  three  ranks. 
You  will  find  a  complete  statement  as  to 
the  requirements  in  the  supplement.  Your 
attention  is  called  to  the  fact  that  all  three 
groups  must  achieve  before  any  one  of  them 
is  entitled  to  their  award.  When  writing 
for  the  M's,  be  sure  to  indicate  how  many 
you  need  of  each  of  the  three  colors.  This 
year  there  will  be  many  girls  who  will  add 
the  second  M  on  their  band  if  they  received 
their  award  last  year. 

4.  War  Service  pin.  A  new  honor  badge, 
number  sixty,  in  the  field  Public  Service  is 
similar  to  all  the  other  honor  badges  in  that 
only  one  badge  can  be  given,  no  matter  how 
many  times  it  is  repeated.  However,  if  a 
girl  spends  an  additional  twenty-four  hours, 
making  a  total  of  thirty-six,  in  filling  the  re- 
quirements of  this  honor  badge,  she  is  then 
entitled  to  wear  the  war  service  pin. 

Many  groups  are  performing  excellent 
war  services.  Bee-Keepers  should  keep  in 
touch  with  their  local  agencies  and  assist  the 
Boy  Scouts  and  other  organizations  in  war 
service  work.  Newspapers  and  radio  sta- 
tions will  often  give  publicity  to  these  efforts, 
thus  letting  people  know  what  we  are  con- 
tributing, as  well  as  making  the  girls  feel 
encouraged  and  important  in  the  work  they 
are  doing.  We  should  like  you  to  write  and 
tell  us  of  any  unusual  activity  you  are  do- 
ing, that  it  might  be  passed  on  to  other 
groups. 

5.  Ordering.  The  Young  Women's  office 
does  not  send  orders  C.O.D.  because  of  the 
increased  cost  to  the  recipient,  nor  does  it 
charge.  This  means  that  either  a  money 
order,  check,  stamps,  or  currency  must  ac- 
company all  orders.  The  office  would  ap- 
preciate your  using  a  price  list  each  time  as 
your  order  blank.  So  much  time  could  be 
saved  and  orders  sent  out  more  promptly  if 
colors  and  number  required,  etc.,  are  checked 
right  on  the  price  list,  and  if  the  name  of  the 
ward  and  stake  as  well  as  the  name  and 
address  of  the  sender  are  filled  in  correctly. 
Remember,  too,  that  honor  badges  and  rings 
cannot  be  sent  unless  the  order  is  accompan- 
ied by  the  stake  Bee-Keeper's  signature. 

749 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 

A   BOOK   TO   SEND   AWAY! 

A   BOOK   TO   KEEP  AT   HOME! 

¥HIS  »/!¥---/!«»  ALW/lYi 

By  RICHARD   L.  EVANS 

This  is  the  second  volume  of  sermonettes  "from  the  Crossroads  of 
the  West,"  containing  nearly  140  comments  on  life,  each  of  which  can 
be  read  in  less  than  two  minutes. 

A  companion  book  to  "Unto  the  Hills." 

There  is  inspiration  in  every  line — to  youth  in  a  troubled  generation 
— to  all  who  face  the  problems  of  our  day. 

"This  Day  -  -  -  And  Always"  is  scheduled  for  release  in  early  De- 
cember by  Harper  &  Brothers,  Publishers,  New  York. 

Available  at  Bookdealers  Everywhere 

Order  Now!    $1.50  a  Copy. 

(See  coupon  inside  cover) 


Dedicated  To 
The  Big  Task 

The  preservation 
of  America 
and  complete 
victory  over  all 
her  enemies  is 
the  task  to  which 
all  employees  of 
this  company 
have  dedicated 
themselves. 

UTAH  POWER  &  LIGHT  CD 


The  Light  that  Shines 
in  Darkness 

(Concluded  from  page  691 ) 

rels  if  applied  by  warring  nations  would 
in  itself  do  away  with  war. 

If  America  is  the  "melting  pot,"  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  is  the  crucible  in 
which  hate,  envy,  and  greed  are  con- 
sumed, and  good  will,  kindness,  and 
love  remain  as  inner  aspirations  by 
which  man  truly  lives  and  builds. 

Proclamation  of  Christ's 
Teachings 

'T'he  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter- 
day  Saints  believes  with  the  Proph- 
et Lehi  that  America  is  a  "land  of  prom- 
ise, a  land  choice  above  all  other  lands" 
— a  land  of  liberty  unto  those  who  keep 
the  commandments  of  God.  But  "if  the 
day  shall  come  that  they  will  reject  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel,  the  true  Messiah, 
their  Redeemer  and  their  God,  behold, 
the  judgments  of  him  that  is  just  shall 
rest  upon  them."  The  Church  believes, 
also,  that  before  the  end  of  wickedness 
shall  come,  and  wars  shall  be  no  more, 
"this  gospel  of  the  Kingdom  must  be 
preached  to  all  the  world." 

The  Constitution  of  this  government 
was  written  by  men  who  accepted 
Jesus  Christ  as  the  Saviour  of  man- 
kind. Let  men  and  women  in  these 
United  States  then  continue  to  keep 
their  eyes  centered  upon  Him  who  ever 
shines  as  a  Light  to  all  the  world.  Men 
and  women  who  live  in  America,  "the 
land  of  Zion,"  have  a  responsibility 
greater  than  that  yet  borne  by  any 
other  people.  Theirs  the  duty,  the  obli- 
gation to  preserve  not  only  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  land  but  the  Christian 
principles  from  which  sprang  that  im- 
mortal document. 

With  the  appeals  for  freedom  that 
you  transmit  to  your  fellow-country- 
men across  the  seas,  send  also  in  mes- 
sages that  connote  a  sincerity  never 
before  expressed,  an  avowed  convic- 
tion that  Christ  is  the  Way,  the  Truth, 
the  Life,  the  only  safe  Guide  to  that 
haven  of  peace  for  which  men  and 
women  the  wide  world  over  are  earn- 
estly praying.  Thus  may  we  hope  that 
there  will  come  an  answer  to  the  pray- 
er: 

Peace  in  our  time,  O  Lord, 

To  all  the  peoples — Peace! 

Peace  that  shall  build  a  glad  new  world, 

And  make  for  life's  increase. 

O  living  Christ,  who  still 

Dost  all  our  burdens  share, 

Come  now  and  dwell  within  the  hearts 

Of  all  men  everywhere. 

To  this  end  let  members  of  the 
Church,  and  honest  men  in  every  clime 
accept,  not  as  an  abstract,  inapplicable 
saying,  but  as  an  eternal  and  guiding 
truth,  the  declaration  of  the  Redeemer: 
"I  am  the  light  of  the  world:  he  that 
followeth  me  shall  not  walk  in  dark- 
ness, but  shall  have  the  light  of  life." 
Amen. 


750 


Qhanqsidu  IN  CHURCH  OFFICERS^ 

Announced  in  the  Saturday  morning  session  of  the  \\3th  Semi-annual  General  Conference,  October  3,  1942 


Special  Appointments: 

J.  Leonard  Love,  Bishop  of  the  Yalecrest 
Ward,  Bonneville  Stake,  appointed  chair- 
man of  the  new  Church  clothing  committee 
of  the  Church  Welfare  program. 

A.  Hamer  Reiser,  Secretary  of  the  Des- 
eret  Sunday  School  Union  general  board, 
appointed  manager  of  the  Deseret  Book 
Company. 

Wendell  J.  Ashton,  member  of  the  general 
board,  was  appointed  to  succeed  A.  Hamer 
Reiser  as  Secretary  of  the  Deseret  Sunday 
School  Union  board. 

Mrs,  Helena  W.  Larson  appointed  as 
secretary  of  the  Y.  W.  M.  I.  A.  general 
board. 

Mew  Mission  Presidents: 

Eldred  L.  Waldron  appointed  to  succeed 
Roscoe  C.  Cox  as  president  of  the  Hawaiian 
Mission, 

James  L.  Barker  appointed  to  succeed 
Frederick  S.  Williams  as  president  of  the 
Argentine  Mission. 

Elijah  Allen  appointed  to  succeed  Henry 
H.  Blood,  deceased,  as  president  of  the  Cali- 
fornia Mission. 

Bishop  Arwell  Lee  Pierce,  El  Paso  Ward, 
Mt.  Graham  Stake,  appointed  to  succeed 
A.  Lorenzo  Anderson  as  president  of  the 
Mexican  Mission. 

New  Stakes  Organized: 

Humboldt  Stake  was  organized  May  31, 
1942,  from  wards  and  branches  in  the  Reno, 
Nevada,  and  Mt.  Ogden  stakes,  and  con- 
sists of  the  Winnemucca  Ward,  Reno  Stake; 
Carlin,  Elko,  Metropolis,  and  Wells  wards, 
Nevada  Stake;  and  the  Montello  Independ- 
ent Branch,  Mt.  Ogden  Stake. 

Mt.  Jordan  Stake  was  organized  May  3, 
1942,  by  a  division  of  the  East  Jordan 
Stake,  and  consists  of  the  Crescent,  Draper 
First,  Draper  Second,  Granite,  Sandy  First. 
Sandy  Second,  and  Sandy  Third  wards. 

Stake  Presidents  Chosen: 

Samuel  Polloch  chosen  president  of  the 
Panguitch  Stake  to  succeed  President  James 
L.  Hatch. 

James  M.  Smith  chosen  president  of  the 
St.  Joseph  Stake  to  succeed  Jesse  A.  Udall. 

Luther  L.  Fife  chosen  president  of  the 
Weiser  Stake  to  succeed  President  Scott  B. 
Brown. 

Rodney  S.  Williams  chosen  president  of 
the  newly  organized  Humboldt  Stake. 

Stanley  A.  Rasmussen  chosen  president 
of  the  newly  organized  Mt.  Jordan  Stake. 

Moses  Campbell  Taylor  chosen  president 
of  the  South  Summit  Stake  to  succeed  H. 
Fred  Egan. 


Evidences  and 
Reconciliations 

(Concluded  from  page  721) 

phase  of  man's  life,  and  why  activity 
must  characterize  the  life  to  come. 

There  is  much  in  the  gospel  not  yet 
revealed  to  man,  but  that  which  we 
know  is  within  the  easy  comprehension 
of  man.  Certainly,  the  revealed  mean- 
ing of  salvation  removes  much  of  the 


George  F.  Christensen  chosen  president 
of  the  Nebo  Stake  to  succeed  Wayland  R. 
Wightman. 

Edward  E.  Drury,  Jr.,  chosen  president 
of  the  Denver  Stake  to  succeed  Douglas 
M.  Todd,  Jr. 

Willard  L.  Smith  chosen  president  of  the 
Alberta  Stake  to  succeed  Edward  J.  Wood. 

Ivan  Call  chosen  president  of  the  Nevada 
Stake  to  succeed  Fred  C.  Horlacher. 

James  D.  Hoggan  chosen  president  of 
the  Burley  Stake  to  succeed  President  Rob- 
ert O.  Hatch. 

Howard  S.  Bennion  chosen  president  of 
the  New  York  Stake  to  succeed  President 
Harvey  Fletcher. 

J.  Melvin  Toone  chosen  president  of  the 
Minidoka  Stake  to  succeed  President  Rich- 
ard C.  May. 

New  Wards  Organized: 

Mount  Fort  Ward,  Farr  West  Stake, 
formed  by  a  division  of  the  Ogden  Tenth 
Ward,  North  Weber  Stake. 

Capitol  Ward,  Phoenix  Stake,  formed  by 
a  division  of  the  Phoenix  Second  Ward. 

Lorin  Farr  Ward,  Ogden  Stake,  formed 
by  a  division  of  the  Ogden  Seventh  Ward. 

Rigby  Fourth  Ward,  Rigby  Stake,  formed 
by  a  division  of  the  Rigby  First  Ward. 

Rigby  Third  Ward,  Rigby  Stake,  formed 
by  a  division  of    the  Rigby  Second  Ward. 

Compton  Center  Ward,  Long  Beach 
Stake,  formed  by  a  division  of  the  Comp- 
ton Ward. 

Cedar  Fifth  Ward,  Parowan  Stake, 
formed  by  a  division  of  the  Center  First 
Ward. 

Valley  View  Ward,  Big  Cottonwood 
Stake,  formed  by  a  division  of  the  Winder 
Ward. 

El  Monte  Ward,  Pasadena  Stake,  formed 
by  a  division  of  the  Baldwin  Park  and 
Rosemead  Wards. 

Pocatello  Eighth  Ward,  Pocatello  Stake, 
formed  by  a  division  of  the  Pocatello 
Fourth  Ward. 

Pocatello  Ninth  Ward,  Pocatello  Stake, 
formed  by  a  division  of  the  Pocatello  Fifth 
Ward. 

Independent  Branches  Made  Wards: 

Payette  Ward,  Weiser  Stake,  formerly 
Payette  Branch. 

Pendleton  Ward,  Union  Stake,  formerly 
Pendleton  Branch. 

Napa  Ward,  Oakland  Stake,  formerly 
Napa  Branch. 

Pittsburg  Ward,  Oakland  Stake,  form- 
erly Pittsburg  Branch. 

New  Independent  Branches: 

Buckeye  Branch,  Phoenix  Stake. 


confusion  surrounding  this   frequently 
used  term. — /.  A.  W. 


Moslem  in  Name  Only 

{Concluded  from  page  724) 
firmly  attached  to  the  noble  bird  that 
it   still   sticks   in   all  English-speaking 
countries. 

Scientists  have  bestowed  upon  this 
American  fowl  the  name  of  "Meleagris 
Mexicana,"  which  of  course  designates 


Dependent    Branches    Made    Independent 
Branches: 

Castleford  Branch,  Twin  Falls  Stake. 
Filer  Branch,  Twin  Falls  Stake. 

Wards  Transferred: 

Crescent,  Draper  First,  Draper  Second, 
Granite,  Sandy  First,  Sandy  Second,  Sandy 
Third  Wards  transferred  from  East  Jordan 
Stake  to  the  newly  formed  Mt.  Jordan  Stake. 

Winnemucca  Ward,  Reno  Stake,  trans- 
ferred to  the  newly  formed  Humboldt  Stake. 

Carlin,  Elko,  Metropolis,  and  Wells 
Wards,  Nevada  Stake,  transferred  to  the 
newly  formed  Humboldt  Stake. 

Wards  Disorganized: 

Topaz  Ward,  Portneuf  Stake,  merged 
with  the  Lava  Hot  Springs  Ward. 

Lava  Ward,  Portneuf  Stake,  merged  with 
the  Lava  Hot  Springs  Ward. 

Woodland  Ward,  Portneuf  Stake,  merged 
with  Downey  Ward. 

Independent  Branches  Transferred: 

Montello  Branch,  Mt.  Ogden  Stake,  trans- 
fered  to  the  newly  formed  Humboldt  Stake. 

San  Rafael  Branch,  San  Francisco  Stake, 
transferred  to  Northern  California  Mission. 

lone  Branch,  Sacramento  Stake,  trans- 
ferred to  Northern  California  Mission. 

Bishops  Who  Have  Passed  Away  While  in 

the  Service: 

Bishop  Lorenzo  M.  Harris,  McCammon 
Ward,  Portneuf  Stake,  died  June  5,  1942. 
after  having  served  about  five  years. 

Bishop  Douglas  Hooper,  Smithfield  Third 
Ward,  Smithfield  Stake,  died  June  17,  1942, 
after  having  served  about  three  years. 

Bishop  Henry  Luthi,  Freedom  Ward,  Star 
Valley  Stake,  died  August  16,  1942,  after 
having  served  about  six  years. 

Obituaries : 

Mrs.  Edna  Harker  Thomas,  former  mem- 
ber of  the  general  board  of  the  Primary  As- 
sociation for  nearly  thirty  years,  died  April 
29,  1942. 

Henry  H.  Blood,  seventh  governor  of 
Utah,  president  of  the  California  Mission, 
former  bishop  of  the  Kaysville  Ward  and 
former  president  of  the  North  Davis  Stake, 
died  June  19,  1942. 

Kumen  Jones,  patriarch  and  former  bishop 
of  the  Bluff  Ward,  San  Juan  Stake,  died 
June  11,  1942. 

George  Bowles,  former  bishop  of  the  Bel- 
vedere Ward,  Grant  Stake,  patriarch  of  the 
Los  Angeles  Stake,  died  June  30,  1942. 

Mrs.  Annie  Wells  Cannon,  one  of  Utah's 
well  known  women,  Church  and  civic  leader 
and  one-time  member  of  the  National 
Women's  Relief  Society  general  board,  died 
September  2,  1942. 


the  country  of  its  origin.  However,  the 
noble  American  bird  that  stands  as  a 
symbol  of  American  holiday  season  still 
bears  a  Moslem  name,  though  Moslem 
in  name  only. 

We  have  retained  the  Aztec  names 
for  many  of  the  products  for  which  we 
are  indebted  to  those  industrious  and 
progressive  people  such  as  "tomato," 
"tobacco,"  "chocolate,"  "tabasco,"  and 
"tamale."  Why  not  "totolin"  instead 
of  "turkey";  an  American  name  for  an 
American  bird. 

751 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


PRIVATE  OWNERSHIP  UNDER  THE  UNITED  ORDER 


{Continued  [com  page  689) 

ready  stated  above,  was  turned  over 
by  the  steward  to  the  bishop,  and  this 
amount  of  surplus,  plus  the  residues  to 
which  I  have  already  referred,  went 
into  a  bishop's  storehouse  (D.  &  C.  51 : 
13  and  citations  above),  and  the  mate- 
rials of  the  storehouse  were  to  be  used 
in  creating  portions,  as  above  indicated, 
for  caring  for  the  poor  (D.  &  C.  78:3) , 
the  widows  and  orphans  (D.  &  C.  83: 
6) ,  and  for  the  elders  of  the  Church  en- 
gaged in  the  ministry,  who  were  to  pay 
for  what  they  received  if  they  could,  but 
if  not,  their  faithful  labors  should  an- 
swer their  debt  to  the  bishop.  (D.  &  C. 
72:11  if) 

Other  Institutions 

Now,  as  time  went  on  and  the  system 
developed,  the  Lord  created  two  other 
institutions  besides  the  storehouse:  one 
was  known  as  the  Sacred  Treasury,  in- 
to which  was  put  "the  avails  of  the 
sacred  things  in  the  treasury,  for  sacred 
and  holy  purposes."  While  it  is  not 
clear,  it  would  seem  that  into  this  treas- 
ury were  to  be  put  the  surpluses  which 
were  derived  from  the  publication  of  the 
revelations,  the  Book  of  Mormon,  the 
Pearl  of  Great  Price,  and  other  similar 
things,  the  stewardship  of  which  had 
been  given  to  Joseph  and  others.  (D.  & 
C.  104:60-66) 

The  Lord  also  provided  for  the  cre- 
ation of  "Another  Treasury,"  and  into 
that  other  treasury  went  the  general 
revenues  which  came  to  the  Church, 
such  as  gifts  of  money  and  those  reven- 
ues derived  from  the  improvement  of 
stewardships  as  distinguished  from  the 
residues  of  the  original  consecrations 
and  the  surpluses  which  came  from  the 
operation  of  their  stewardships.  (D.  & 
C.  72:11  ff) 

The  foregoing  is  the  general  outline 
as  it  is  gathered  from  the  revelations 
of  the  law  of  the  United  Order  which 
the  Lord  spoke  of  as  "my  law."  (D.  & 
C.  44:6;  51 :15)  There  are  passages  in 
the  revelations  which,  taken  from  their 
context  and  without  having  in  mind  the 
whole  system,  might  be  considered  as 
inconsistent  with  some  of  the  things 
which  I  have  set  out,  but  all  such  pas- 
sages fall  into  line  if  the  whole  program 
is  looked  at  as  contained  in  all  of  the 
revelations. 

Private  Ownership  Fundamental 

The  fundamental  principle  of  this  sys- 
tem was  the  private  ownership  of  prop- 
erty. Each  man  owned  his  portion,  or 
inheritance,  or  stewardship,  with  an  ab- 
solute title,  which  he  could  alienate,  or 
hypothecate,  or  otherwise  treat  as  his 
own.  The  Church  did  not  own  all  of 
the  property,  and  the  life  under  the 
United  Order  was  not  a  communal  life, 
as  the  Prophet  Joseph,  himself,  said, 
(History  of  the  Church,  Volume  III,  p. 
752 


28 ) .    The  United  Order  is  an  individ- 
ualistic system,  not  a  communal  system. 

The  Welfare  Plan  and  the 
United  Order 

We  have  all  said  that  the  Welfare 
Plan  is  not  the  United  Order  and  was 
not  intended  to  be.  However,  I  should 
like  to  suggest  to  you  that  perhaps, 
after  all,  when  the  Welfare  Plan  gets 
thoroughly  into  operation — it  is  not  so 
yet — we  shall  not  be  so  very  far  from 
carrying  out  the  great  fundamentals  of 
the  United  Order. 

In  the  first  place  I  repeat  again,  the 
United  Order  recognized  and  was  built 
upon  the  principle  of  private  ownership 
of  property;  all  that  a  man  had  and  lived 
upon  under  the  United  Order,  was  his 
own.  Quite  obviously,  the  fundamental 
principle  of  our  system  today  is  the  own- 
ership of  private  property. 

In  the  next  place,  in  lieu  of  residues 
and  surpluses  which  were  accumulated 
and  built  up  under  the  United  Order, 
we,  today,  have  our  fast  offerings,  our 
Welfare  donations,  and  our  tithing, 
all  of  which  may  be  devoted  to  the  care 
of  the  poor,  as  well  as  for  the  carrying 
on  of  the  activities  and  business  of  the 
Church.  After  all,  the  United  Order 
was  primarily  designed  to  build  up  a 
system  under  which  there  should  be  no 
abjectly  poor,  and  this  is  the  purpose, 
also,  of  the  Welfare  Plan. 

In  this  connection  it  should  be  ob- 
served that  it  is  clear  from  these  earlier 
revelations,  as  well  as  from  our  history, 
that  the  Lord  had  very  early  to  tell  the 
people  about  the  wickedness  of  idleness, 
and  the  wickedness  of  greed,  because 
the  brethren  who  had  were  not  giving 
properly,  and  those  who  had  not  were 
evidently  intending  to  live  without  work 
on  the  things  which  were  to  be  received 
from  those  who  had  property.  (D.  &  C. 
56:16-20) 

Storehouses  and  Projects 

Furthermore,  we  had  under  the 
United  Order  a  bishop's  storehouse  in 
which  were  collected  the  materials  from 
which  to  supply  the  needs  and  the  wants 
of  the  poor.  We  have  a  bishop's  store- 
house under  the  Welfare  Plan,  used  for 
the  same  purpose. 

As  I  have  already  indicated,  the  sur- 
plus properties  which  came  to  the 
Church  under  the  Law  of  Consecration, 
under  the  United  Order,  became  the 
"common  property"  of  the  Church  (D. 
&  C.  82:18)  and  were  handled  under 
the  United  Order  for  the  benefit  of  the 
poor.  We  have  now  under  the  Wel- 
fare Plan  all  over  the  Church,  ward 
land  projects.  In  some  cases  the  lands 
are  owned  by  the  wards,  in  others  they 
are  leased  by  the  wards  or  lent  to  them 
by  private  individuals.  This  land  is 
being  farmed  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor, 
by  the  poor  where  you  can  get  the 
poor  to  work  it. 

We  have  in  place  of  the  two  treas- 


uries, the  "Sacred  Treasury"  and  "An- 
other Treasury,"  the  general  funds  of 
the  Church. 

Thus  you  will  see,  brethren,  that  in 
many  of  its  great  essentials,  we  have, 
as  the  Welfare  Plan  has  now  developed, 
the  broad  essentials  of  the  United  Or- 
der. Furthermore,  having  in  mind  the 
assistance  which  is  being  given  from 
time  to  time  and  in  various  wards  to 
help  set  people  up  in  business  or  in  farm- 
ing, we  have  a  plan  which  is  not  essenti- 
ally unlike  that  which  was  in  the  United 
Order  when  the  poor  were  given  por- 
tions from  the  common  fund. 

Now,  brethren,  the  Church  has  made 
tremendous  advances  in  the  Welfare 
Plan.  We  shall  have  to  make  still  great- 
er advances.  As  the  Message  of  the 
First  Presidency  said  this  morning,  we 
are  being  told  by  Government  officials 
that  we  face  what  we  used  to  call  "hard 
times."  If  the  Welfare  Plan  is  fully 
operative,  we  shall  be  able  to  care  for 
every  destitute  Latter-day  Saint  wher- 
ever he  may  be. 

THE  CONSTITUTION 

Now,  I  would  like  to  say  something 
else,  brethren,  again  by  way  of  counsel. 
I  shall  be  accused,  when  I  do,  of  talking 
politics,  and  perhaps  on  this  point  I  may 
say  I  do  not  read  anonymous  letters. 
When  they  come  in  I  just  throw  them 
into  the  wastebasket.  I  only  read 
enough  of  the  signed  scurrilous  letters 
that  are  sent  to  know  that  they  are  scur- 
rilous, and  then  they  follow  along.  So 
it  is  useless  for  anyone  to  try  to  take  out 
any  personal  feeling  in  that  way. 

You  and  I  have  heard  all  our  lives 
that  the  time  may  come  when  the  Con- 
stitution may  hang  by  a  thread.  I  do 
not  know  whether  it  is  a  thread  or  a 
small  rope  by  which  it  now  hangs,  but 
I  do  know  that  whether  it  shall  live  or 
die  is  now  in  the  balance. 

I  have  said  to  you  before,  brethren, 
that  to  me  the  Constitution  is  a  part  of 
my  religion.  In  its  place  it  is  just  as 
much  a  part  of  my  religion  as  any  other 
part.  It  is  a  part  of  my  religion  because 
it  is  one  of  those  institutions  which  God 
has  set  up  for  His  own  purposes,  and, 
as  one  of  the  brethren  said  today,  set 
up  so  that  this  Church  might  be  estab- 
lished, because  under  no  other  govern- 
ment in  the  world  could  the  Church 
have  been  established  as  it  has  been  es- 
tablished under  this  Government. 

I  think  I  would  be  safe  in  saying  that 
my  fellowship  with  you  in  the  Church 
depends  upon  whether  or  not  I  accept 
the  revelations  and  the  principles  which 
God  has  revealed.  If  I  am  not  willing 
to  do  that,  then  I  am  not  entitled  to  fel- 
lowship. Anyone  else  who  fails  to  ac- 
cept the  revelations  and  the  principles 
which  God  has  revealed  stands  in  pre- 
cisely the  same  situation. 

In  the  101st  Section  of  the  Doctrine 


The  Constitution 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


and  Covenants,  which  contains  a  reve- 
lation received  by  the  Prophet  in  1833, 
when  the  persecution  in  Missouri  was 
at  its  highest,  the  Lord  told  the  breth- 
ren that  they  should  appeal  for  help. 
Then  He  added  these  verses,  which  I 
want  to  read  to  you: 

According  to  the  laws  and  constitution  of 
the  people,  which  I  have  suffered  to  be  es- 
tablished, and  should  be  maintained  for  the 
rights  and  protection  of  all  flesh,  according 
to  just  and  holy  principles; 

That  every  man  may  act  in  doctrine  and 
principle  pertaining  to  futurity,  according 
to  the  moral  agency  which  I  have  given 
unto  him,  that  every  man  may  be  account- 
able for  his  own  sins  in  the  day  of  judg- 
ment 

Therefore,  it  is  not  right  that  any  man 
should  be  in  bondage  one  to  another. 

And  for  this  purpose  have  I  established 
the  Constitution  of  this  land,  by  the  hands 
of  wise  men  whom  I  raised  up  unto  this 
very  purpose,  and  redeemed  the  land  by  the 
shedding  of  blood.     (D.  &  C.  101:77-80) 

Influence  in  the  Americas 

I  suppose  you  brethren  will  all  know, 
but  I  will  recall  it  to  your  attention,  that 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  is 
the  basic  law  for  all  of  the  Americas,  or 
Zion,  as  it  has  been  defined  by  the  Lord. 

You  brethren  from  Canada  know  that 
your  great  British  North  America  Act, 
in  its  fundamental  principles,  is  based 
upon  our  Constitution,  and  you  know 
that  in  the  courts  of  Canada,  the  reports 
of  our  Supreme  Court,  and  our  Federal 
courts  generally,  are  just  as  persuasive 
as  the  decisions  of  the  courts  of  Eng- 
land, and  even  more  so,  where  ques- 
tions of  constitutional  law  and  consti- 
tutional interpretation  are  involved. 

You  brethren  also  know  that  from 
the  Rio  Grande  down  to  the  Horn  there 
is  no  constitutional  government  except 
those  that  are  founded  primarily  upon 
our  own  Constitution.  In  Mexico  the 
revolutionary  party  which  more  than  a 
century  and  a  quarter  ago  rebelled 
against  the  king  of  Spain  and  established 
a  republic,  copied  almost  verbatim,  and 
practically  overnight,  our  Constitution, 
and  made  it  their  own.  Neither  Mexi- 
co nor  the  others  to  the  South  interpret 
their  Constitutions  as  we  interpret  ours. 
They  have  different  standards  and  dif- 
ferent canons  of  interpretation,  for 
their  fundamental  system  is  the  civil 
law,  while  ours  is  the  common  law.  But 
the  great  essentials  of  that  document, 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
which  God  Himself  inspired,  is  the  law 
of  Zion,  the  Americas. 

The  Law  of  Zion 

So,  brethren,  I  wish  you  to  under- 
stand that  when  we  begin  to  tamper 
with  the  Constitution  we  begin  to  tam- 
per with  the  law  of  Zion  which  God 
Himself  set  up,  and  no  one  may  trifle 
with  the  word  of  God  with  impunity, 
(Concluded  on  page  754) 


WfT 


:',; 


I 

S  v  f 


^P*^§-Ss*' 


— ^    *.-*, 


WILL#f/lWINTHEWAR 

Materials,  labor  and  plant  capacity  are  so  urgently  required  for 
war  production,  the  American  railroads  and  civilian  public  have 
been  asked  to  help  win  the  war  by  getting  along  without  addi- 
tional passenger  equipment  for  the  duration. 

Although  some  trains  are  now  quite  heavily  loaded  on  certain 
days,  the  Burlington  believes  civilians  can  continue  to  enjoy  fast, 
comfortable,  dependable  railroad  transportation  if  we  cooperate 
—  the  American  way  of  accomplishment- — by  making  the  most 
effective  use  of  existing  facilities.  Here  are  some  suggestions: 


■ 


•  Travel  during  the  middle  of  the 
week,  whenever  possible. 

9  Spread  vacation  travel,  so  far  as 
practical,  over  the  entire  year. 

0  Travel  light.  Check  baggage  you 
will  not  require  en  route. 


Make  Pullman  reservations  well 
in  advance  and  cancel  promptly 
if  not  needed. 

Consult  your  nearest  Burlington 
representative  for  travel  advice. 
You  can  profit  by  the  counsel  of 
travel  experts. 


J.  H.  GREGORY,  General  Agent 
218  Kearns  Building  Phone:3-6465 


Salt  Lake  City 


©. 


ecause 

of  its  absorbing  and  rich  story,  the  executives  have 
selected  for  this  year's  M.  I.  A.  reading  course: 


IN  THE  GOSPEL  NET 


By  Dr.  John  A.  Widtsoe 


141  pages— $1.25 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA 

50  North  Main 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


753 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


Milk  White  Eggs 


are  really  swell  for 

VICTORY  LUNCHES 

for  Dad  on  his  defense  job,  and  for  the 
children  in  school. 

Remember:    Eggs  are  one  of  your  best 
natural  sources  of  vitamins  and  minerals. 


UTAH    POULTRY  PRODUCER'S 

CO-OP. 
ASS'N. 


DUALITY 

MACHINERY 

HELPS  PRODUCE 
QUALITY  CROPS 

To  help  you  we  bend  all  our  efforts  to- 
ward getting  the  best  merchandise  to  be 
had  at  prices  y°u  can  afford  to  pay. 

^Distributors 

•  JOHN  DEERE  HORSE  AND  POWER 

EQUIPMENT. 

•  PLANET  JR.  SEEDERS  AND  CULTI- 

VATORS. 

•  BEAR  CAT  HAMMER  MILLS. 

•  MYERS   PUMPS— POMONA  PUMPS. 

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BATTERIES. 

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Consolidated  Wagon  & 
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UTAH 


IDAHO 


WYOMING 


You  Can't 
Always  Plan 
the  Future  by 
the  Past 

Just  because  you  haven't 
had  a  fire  is  no  reason 
why  you  won't.  Don't 
judge  the  future  by  the 
past. 

Fire  is  a  constant  men- 
ace and  may  visit  you  any 
day. 

Insure  your  property  to- 
day and  be  protected 
against  loss. 

Better  get  your  policy 
while  you  can. 

Utah*  Home  Fire 
Insurance  Co. 

Heber  J.  Grant  &  Co. 
GENERAL  AGENTS 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


3l^B  ^?  vy^ifn  vww^if  ••  wuw  ■  ■  ■  m  m 

x^tt.  jh.  *>.  *>.  1,-frinferffc  ft  ittr  fri'thr"!  ir**i  ~fli  Ifr^i^fcidTii  tt.«lhirffo«-iThi-ftiii-*li,d 


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■OAKE  every  month  Christmas  for  your  boys  in  the  service  by 
sending  them  a  twelve-month  subscription  to 

THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

Subscribe  for  the  November  Conference  "Era"  and  bring  the 
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754 


The  Constitution 


( Concluded  from  page  753 ) 

Now,  I  am  not  caring  today,  for  my- 
self, anything  at  all  about  a  political 
party  tag.  So  far  as  I  am  concerned. 
I  want  to  know  what  the  man  stands 
for.  I  want  to  know  if  he  believes  in 
the  Constitution;  if  he  believes  in  its 
free  institutions;  if  he  believes  in  its  lib- 
erties, its  freedom.  I  want  to  know  if 
he  believes  in  the  Bill  of  Rights.  I  want 
to  know  if  he  believes  in  the  separation 
of  sovereign  power  into  the  three  great 
divisions:  the  Legislative,  the  Judicial, 
the  Executive.  I  want  to  know  if  he  be- 
lieves in  the  mutual  independence  of 
these,  the  one  from  the  other.  When 
I  find  out  these  things,  then  I  know  who 
it  is  who  should  receive  my  support,  and 
I  care  not  what  his  party  tag  is,  because, 
brethren,  if  we  are  to  live  as  a  Church, 
and  progress,  and  have  the  right  to  wor- 
ship as  we  are  worshipping  here  today, 
we  must  have  the  great  guarantees  that 
are  set  up  by  our  Constitution.  There 
is  no  other  way  in  which  we  can  secure 
these  guarantees.  You  may  look  at  the 
systems  all  over  the  world  where  the 
principles  of  our  Constitution  are  not 
controlling  and  in  force,  and  you  will 
find  there  dictatorship,  tyranny,  oppres- 
sion, and,  in  the  last  analysis,  slavery. 

Allegiance 

I  have  said  enough.  I  believe  you 
understand  what  I  have  said.  Today, 
our  duty  transcends  party  allegiance; 
our  duty  today  is  allegiance  to  the  Con- 
stitution as  it  was  given  to  us  by  the 
Lord.  Every  federal  officer  takes  an 
oath  to  support  that  Constitution  so 
given.  The  difference  between  us  and 
some  of  those  to  the  South  of  us  is  this: 
down  there,  their  fealty  runs  to  indi- 
viduals; here,  our  fealty  and  our  alleg- 
iance run  to  the  Constitution  and  to  the 
principles  which  it  embodies,  and  not  to 
individuals. 

God  give  us  wisdom  and  enable  us 
in  these  times  of  trouble  and  strife  clear- 
ly to  see  our  way,  that  we  may  be  in- 
strumental in  sustaining  the  Constitu- 
tion, in  upholding  our  free  institutions, 
our  civil  rights,  our  freedom  of  speech, 
of  press,  of  religion,  and  of  conscience. 
If  we  shall  stand  together  we  shall  save 
the  Constitution,  just  as  has  been  fore- 
seen, and  if  we  do  not  stand  together, 
we  cannot  perform  this  great  task. 

God  grant  that  we  may  be  true,  I 
pray,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ.  Amen. 


The  Editor's  Page 

{Continued   from   page    753) 
I  got  to  the  depot,  I  said:   "Nephi,  why 
on  earth  are  you  calling  me  back  here? 
I  had   an  appointment   out   in   Tooele 
Stake." 

"Never  mind,"  he  said;  "it  was  not 
(Continued  on  page  756) 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


<Co 


1  resident  uteb&i  ^/.  tjrant 


a  great  man 
a  wise  organizer 


an  inspiring  presi 


ident 


(bincerest  (congratulations 
on  his  eighty-sixth  birthday 


are  exten 


ded  v 


it 


THE     PERSONNEL     OF 

THE  INTERSTATE  BRICK  COMPANY 

3180  South  11th  East 


755 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


{Continued  [torn  page  754) 
I  who  sent  for  you;  it  was  Brother 
Lyman.  He  told  me  to  send  the  tele- 
gram and  sign  my  name  to  it.  He  told 
me  to  come  and  meet  you  and  take  you 
to  the  President's  office.  That  is  all  I 
know." 

So  I  went  to  the  President's  office,  and 
there  sat  Brother  Teasdale,  and  all  of 
the  ten  Apostles,  and  the  Presidency  of 
the  Church,  and  also  Seymour  B.  Young 
and  the  members  of  the  Seven  Presi- 
dents of  the  Seventies.  And  the  revela- 
tion was  read  calling  Brother  Teas- 
dale  and  myself  to  the  apostleship,  and 
Brother  Seymour  B.  Young  to  be  one 
of  the  Seven  Presidents  of  the  Seven- 
ties. 

Brother  Teasdale  was  blessed  by 
President  John  Taylor,  and  George  Q. 
Cannon   blessed  me. 

After  the  meeting  I  said  to  Brother 
Teasdale,  "I  know  what  you  were  go- 
ing to  say  to  me  on  the  sixth  of  October 
when  you  happened  to  choke  half  to 
death  and  then  went  into  the  meet- 
ing." 

He  said,  "Oh,  no,  you  don't." 

"Yes,  I  do,"  and  I  repeated  it:  "You 
and  I  are  going  to  be  called  to  the 
apostleship." 

He  said,  "Well,  that  is  what  I  was 
going  to  say,  and  then  it  occurred  to 
me  that  I  had  no  right  to  tell  it,  that  I 
had  received  a  manifestation  from  the 


THE  EDITOR'S  PAGE 

Lord."  He  said,  "Heber,  I  have  suf- 
fered the  tortures  of  the  damned  for 
ten  days,  thinking  I  could  not  tell  the 
difference  between  a  manifestation 
from  the  Lord  and  one  from  the  devil, 
that  the  devil  had  deceived  me." 

I  said,  "I  have  not  suffered  like  that, 
but  I  never  prayed  so  hard  in  my  life 
for  anything  as  I  did  that  the  Lord 
would  forgive  me  for  the  egotism  of 
thinking  that  I  was  fit  to  be  an  apostle, 
and  that  I  was  ready  to  go  into  that 
meeting  ten  days  ago  and  vote  for  my- 
self to  be  an  apostle." 

I  was  a  very  unhappy  man  from  Oc- 
tober until  February.  For  the  next 
four  months  whenever  I  would  bear  my 
testimony  of  the  divinity  of  the  Savior, 
there  seemed  to  be  a  voice  that  would 
say:  "You  lie,  because  you  have  never 
seen  Him."  One  of  the  brethren  had 
made  the  remark  that  unless  a  man  had 
seen  the  Lamb  of  God — that  was  his 
expression — he  was  not  fit  to  be  an 
apostle.  This  feeling  that  I  have  men- 
tioned would  follow  me.  I  would  wake 
up  in  the  night  with  the  impression: 
"You  do  not  know  that  Jesus  is  the 
Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  because  you 
have  never  seen  Him,"  and  the  same 
feeling  would  come  to  me  when  I  would 
preach  and  bear  testimony.  It  worried 
me  from  October  until  the  following 
February. 

I  was  in  Arizona  in  February,  travel- 
ing with  Brigham  Young,  Jr.,    and    a 


number  of  other  brethren,  visiting  the 
Navajo  Indians  and  the  Moki  Indians. 
Several  of  our  party  were  riding  in 
"White  Tops"  and  several  on  horse- 
back. I  was  in  the  rear  of  the  party 
with  Brother  Lot  Smith.  He  was  on 
a  big  fine  iron-grey  horse,  and  I  was  on 
a  small  mule  that  I  had  discovered  was 
the  easiest  and  best  riding  animal  I  had 
ever  straddled. 

We  were  going  due  east  when  the 
road  changed  and  went  almost  north, 
but  there  was  a  trail  ahead  of  us,  and  I 
said,  "Hold  on,  Lot;  stop." 

I  said,  "Brother  Smith,  where  does 
this  trail  lead?" 

He  said,  "It  leads  to  a  great  gully 
just  a  short  distance  away,  and  no 
team  can  possibly  travel  over  it.  We 
have  to  make  a  regular  mule  shoe  of  a 
ride  to  get  to  the  other  side  of  the 
gully." 

I  said,  "Is  there  any  danger  from 
Indians  if  a  man  were  alone  over 
there?" 

"None  at  all." 

I  said:  "I  visited  the  spot  yesterday 
where  George  A.  Smith,  Jr.,  was  killed 
by  a  Navajo  Indian,  who  asked  him  for 
his  pistol  and  then  shot  him  with  it,  and 
I  feel  a  little  nervous,  but  if  there  is  no 
danger  I  want  to  be  all  alone,  so  you 
go  on  with  the  party  and  I  will  take 
that  trail." 

I  had  this  feeling  that  I  ought  not  to 
testify  any  more  about  the  Savior  and 


^W 


END 


E  haven't  been  doing  so  well  by  you  lately.  You  have  asked  for  many 
things  we  can  no  longer  obtain  for  you.  Furthermore,  we  feel  our  serv- 
ice has  not  been  as  prompt  in  some  cases  as  it  should  be. 

This  is  just  to  let  you  know  we  will  welcome  your  constructive 
criticisms.  We  have  a  tendency  to  blame  all  our  failures  and  shortcomings  on  the  war, 
as  the  easiest  excuse.  If  we  can  improve  our  service  to  you  under  present  condi- 
tions, we  wish  to,  and  we'll  make  every  effort  to  do  so. 

You  have  been  most  patient  and  understanding.   For  your  forbearance,  please 
accept  our  sincere  gratitude ! 

Cordially  yours, 

SEARS,    ROEBUCK    AND   CO. 


OGDEN 


PROVO 


LOGAN 


SALT  LAKE  CITY 


756 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


THE  EDITOR'S  PAGE 


that,  really,  I  was  not  fit  to  be  an 
apostle.  It  seemed  overwhelming  to  me 
that  I  should  be  one.  There  was  a 
spirit  that  said:  "If  you  have  not  seen 
the  Savior,  why  don't  you  resign  your 
position?" 

As  I  rode  along  alone,  I  seemed  to 
see  a  council  in  heaven.  The  Savior 
was  there;  the  Prophet  Joseph  was 
there;  my  father  and  others  that  I  knew 
were  there.  In  this  council  it  seemed 
that  they  decided  that  a  mistake  had 
been  made  in  not  filling  the  vacancies 
in  the  Quorum  of  the  Twelve,  and  con- 
ference had  adjourned.  The  chances 
were  the  Brethren  would  wait  another 
six  months,  and  the  way  to  remedy  the 
situation  was  to  send  a  revelation  nam- 
ing the  men  who  should  fill  the  vacan- 
cies. In  this  council  the  Prophet  said, 
"I  want  to  be  represented  by  one  of 
my  own  in  that  Council." 

A  little  while  before  this  I  had  at- 
tended the  funeral  of  Brother  Snede- 
ker,  a  counselor  in  the  bishopric  of  Mill 
Creek  Ward,  and  Brother  Joseph  E. 
Taylor  spoke  at  the  services.  In  his 
remarks  he  became  very  pathetic  to 
think  that  the  Prophet  had  given  his  life 
for  the  Cause  and  that  he  had  no  repre- 
sentative in  the  quorums  of  the  Priest- 
hood of  the  Church.  He  was  followed 
by  Brother  Joseph  F.  Smith,  and  Broth- 
er Smith  said:  "  'We  believe  the  Bible 
to  be  the  word  of  God  as  far  as  it  is 
translated  correctly,'  and  I  believe  it  is 
translated  correctly  when  it  says  that 
if  a  man  die  his  brother  shall  marry  his 
widow  and  raise  up  seed  to  the  dead 
man,  and  I  need  to  take  only  two  steps 
from  where  I  am  standing  now  to  place 
my  hand  on  the  shoulder  of  a  man  who 
is  one  of  the  Twelve  Apostles  of  the 
Church,  who  is  a  son  of  the  Prophet 
Joseph,"  and  he  pointed  directly  at  me. 

It  made  a  very  profound  impression 
upon  me,  and  I  wondered  if  I  should 


tell  the  people  about  it.  I  had  always 
understood  and  known  that  my  mother 
was  sealed  to  the  Prophet,  and  that 
Brigham  Young  had  told  my  father  that 
he  would  not  marry  my  mother  to  him 
for  eternity,  because  he  had  instruc- 
tions from  the  Prophet  that  if  anything 
happened  to  him  before  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Rachel  Ivins  she  must  be  sealed 
to  him  for  eternity,  that  she  belonged  to 
him. 

That  is  the  reason  that  Father  spoke 
up  in  this  council  to  which  I  have  re- 
ferred, and  said:  "Why  not  choose 
the  boy  who  bears  my  name,  who  be- 
longs to  you,  to  be  one  of  the  apostles?" 
That  inspiration  was  given  to  me. 

I  can  truthfully  say  that  from  Febru- 
ary, 1883,  until  today  I  have  never  had 
any  of  that  trouble,  and  I  can  bear  my 
testimony  that  I  know  that  God  lives, 
that  Jesus  is  the  Christ,  the  Savior  of 
the  world,  and  that  Joseph  Smith  is  a 
prophet  of  the  living  God;  and  the  evil 
does  not  try  to  persuade  me  that  I  do 
not  know  what  I  am  talking  about.  I 
have  never  had  one  slight  impression 
to  the  contrary.  I  have  just  had  real, 
genuine  joy  and  satisfaction  in  pro- 
claiming the  gospel  and  bearing  my 
testimony  of  the  divinity  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  divine  calling  of  Joseph 
Smith,  the  prophet. 

Now,  brethren,  I  could  go  on  dictat- 
ing by  the  hour,  there  are  so  many 
things  that  have  happened  in  my  life 
that  I  would  like  to  tell  you. 

I  once  more  thank  the  Saints  for 
their  faith  and  for  their  prayers,  and 
for  the  strength  that  I  have  today  in 
comparison  with  two  and  one-half 
years  ago. 

May  God's  blessings  be  and  abide 
with  you,  one  and  all,  and  all  the 
Saints  and  all  the  honest  people  the 
world  over,  is  the  prayer  of  my  heart, 
even  so.    Amen. 


THE  MESSAGE  OF  THE  FIRST  PRESIDENCY 


(Continued  from  page  687) 

us,  who  can  fathom  the  joy  or  measure 
the  blessing  of  that  father  and  mother 
who  can  stand  before  the  Lord  and 
say:  "We  have  kept  Thy  command- 
ments. We  and  ours  have  lived  Thy 
law.  Vouchsafe  Thy  promised  blessings 
unto  us.  We  remember  Thy  word,  I, 
the  Lord,  am  bound  when  ye  do  what 
I  say.'  Let  Thy  healing  power  rest 
upon  our  afflicted  ones  'that  the  de- 
stroying angel  shall  pass  by  them,  as 
the  children  of  Israel,  and  not  slay 
them.'  " 

As  with  a  person,  as  with  a  people, 
so  it  is  with  a  nation.  A  drunken  na- 
tion cannot  expect  that  God  will  with- 
hold His  judgments,  nor  ward  off  the 
ravages  of  the  destroyer.  A  drunken 
nation  is  a  seedbed  for  disaster— poli- 
tical, physical,  moral,  and  spiritual.  A 
drunken  nation  may  not,  even  in  its 
hours  of  direst  distress,  pray  to  God 


for  help,  with  that  simple  assurance 
and  unpolluted  faith  which  bring  aid 
and  comfort  to  those  who  abide  the 
law  of  sobriety  and  keep  His  com- 
mandments. 

Rulers  of  nations  may  not  suppose 
that  their  peoples  will  be  less  drunken 
than  are  they  themselves.  We  call 
upon  the  rulers  of  all  nations  to  show 
their  peoples  by  their  examples  how  to 
live  the  sober  and  virtuous  life.  We 
call  upon  them  to  bring  into  their  coun- 
sels, the  reenthroned  reason  of  un- 
drunken  minds.  Then  will  wisdom  and 
vision  return,  and  peace  will  leave  her 
hiding  place  to  bless  the  world.  We 
exhort  men  and  rulers  the  world  over 
to  learn  the  blessings  which  come  to 
those  who  live  God's  full  law  of 
health,  that  they  may,  under  His  hands 
and  by  His  power,  help  to  bring  salva- 
tion, temporal  and  spiritual,  to  the 
whole  human  race. 

( Continued  on  page  758 ) 


VISIT  US! 

When  you  come  to  Salt  Lake 
City,  visit  Hotel  Utah  .  .  . 
where  there  is  every  provi- 
sion for  your  comfort  and 
pleasure. 

The  beautiful  EMPIRE  ROOM 
for  dining  and  dancing.  The 
colorful  COFFEE  SHOP, 
•where  you  enjoy  fine  food, 
graciously  served. 

Luxurious  rooms. 

You're  always  welcome  at 
"The  Utah." 

HOTEL  UTAH 

SALT  LAKE  CITY 
•GUY  TOOMBES, 
Managing  Director 


(huwwudnc^ 


A  416  page  book 


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Contemporary   Historical  data 
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Available  for  mailing  about 
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» 


757 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


TRAVELER'S  MOTOR  LODGE 

1481    SOUTH   STATE 

SALT    LAKE'S     OUTSTANDING    MOTOR 

COURT 

New  and  Strictly  Modern 

Air    Conditioned   in   Summer — Automatic- 
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FOR   LESS 


THE  MESSAGE  OF  THE  FIRST  PRESIDENCY 


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Their  Messages 

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This  Day  .  .  .  And  Always....750,  765 

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(Continued  from  page  757) 

Chastity 

J"  Tpon  the  heels  of  the  demon  drink, 
tread  the  demons  of  unchastity — 
harlotry,  fornication,  adultery,  while 
murder  itself  lurks  not  far  behind.  From 
Adam  until  now,  God  has  commanded 
that  His  children  be  sexually  clean. 

Here  again  we  extend  gratitude  to 
our  Heavenly  Father  for  the  great  body 
of  the  Saints  who  have  kept  the  moral 
law.    To  the  Corinthians,  Paul  said: 

Know  ye  not  that  ye  are  the  temple  of 
God,  and  that  the  Spirit  of  God  dwelleth  in 
you? 

If  any  man  defile  the  temple  of  God,  him 
shall  God  destroy:  for  the  temple  of  God  is 
holy,  which  temple  ye  are. —  (I  Cor.  3: 16-17; 
II  Cor.  6:16) 

And  again: 

What?  know  ye  not  that  your  body  is  the 
temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost  which  is  in  you, 
which  ye  have  of  God,  and  ye  are  not  your 
own?— (I  Cor.  6:19) 

You  who  have  observed  the  law  of 
chastity  have  kept  the  temples  of  God 
undented.  You  can  stand  unabashed 
before  the  Lord.  He  loves  you.  He 
will  bestow  honor  and  reward  upon 
you.  Every  overcoming  of  temptation 
brings  strength  and  glory  to  the  soul. 
May  the  Lord  continue  to  bless  and 
prosper  you  in  all  your  works  of  right- 
eousness. 

But  some  of  us  have  forgotten  what 
the  Lord  has  said  about  these  sins. 
Some  of  us  have  failed  to  teach  our 
children  the  need  for  sexual  purity. 
Some  teachers  have  tried  to  lay  bare 
to  our  youth  the  mysteries  of  life,  and 
so  have  robbed  the  creative  act  of  all 
the  sanctity  with  which  from  the  begin- 
ning God  has  enshrouded  it.  These 
have  given  no  restraining  righteous 
principle  in  its  place.  So,  with  too 
many,  modesty  has  become  a  derided 
virtue,  and  the  sex  desire  has  been  de- 
graded to  the  level  of  hunger  and  thirst. 
From  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  until  now, 
sex  immorality,  with  its  attendant  evils 
of  drink  and  corruption,  has  brought 
low  the  mightiest  of  nations,  has  de- 
stroyed powerful  peoples,  has  reduced 
erring  man  almost  to  the  level  of  the 
beasts  of  the  field. 

That  we  may  be  reminded  of  the 
enormity  of  the  sin  of  unchastity,  it  is 
well  that  we  recall  some  of  the  things 
which  the  Lord  and  His  prophets  have 
said  concerning  it. 

One  of  the  ten  basic  principles  of 
Christian  society,  and  accepted  by  all 
worshipers  of  the  true  God,  came  to 
men  at  Sinai  when  God  wrote  with 
His  own  finger:  "Thou  shalt  not  com- 
mit adultery." 

By  the  laws  of  Moses,  adulterers 
were  stoned  to  death.  (Deut.  22:24) 
God  said  to  Israel:  "There  shall  be  no 
whore  of  the  daughters  of  Israel,  nor 
a  sodomite  of  the  sons  of  Israel." 
(Deut.  23:17)  When  God,  through 
Jeremiah,  chastened  Israel  for  apostasy, 
He  pictured  her  loathsomeness  by  call- 


ing her  a  harlot.    (Jeremiah  3)      Paul 
declared  to  the  Ephesians: 

For  this  ye  know,  that  no  whoremonger, 
nor  unclean  person  .  .  .  hath  any  inherit- 
ance in  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  of  God. 
(Eph.  5:5) 

The  Revelator  declared  that  whore- 
mongers "shall  have  their  part  in  the 
lake  which  burneth  with  fire  and  brim- 
stone: which  is  the  second  death." 
(Rev.  21:8)  And  when  he  wished  to 
condemn  the  great  false  church  and  its 
iniquities  that  had  led  the  world  into 
apostasy  and  wickedness,  the  Revela- 
tor called  her  "Mystery,  Babylon  the 
Great,  the  Mother  of  Harlots  and 
Abominations  of  the  Earth."  (Rev.. 
17:5)  Jacob,  teaching  the  Nephites, 
declared: 

Wo  unto  them  who  commit  whoredoms, 
for  they  shall  be  thrust  down  to  hell.- — 
(2  Nephi  9:36) 

To  us  of  this  Church,  the  Lord  has 
declared  that  adulterers  should  not  be 
admitted  to  membership  (D.  &  C.  42: 
76 ) ;  that  adulterers  in  the  Church,  if 
unrepentant,  should  be  cast  out  (D.  & 
C.  42:75),  but  if  repentant  should  be 
permitted  to  remain  (D.  &  C.  42:74, 
42:25)  and,  He  said,  "By  this  ye 
may  know  if  a  man  repenteth  of  his 
sins— behold,  he  will  confess  them  and 
forsake  them."— (D.  &  C.  58:43) 

In  the  great  revelation  on  the  three 
heavenly  glories,  the  Lord  said,  speak- 
ing of  those  who  will  inherit  the  lowest 
of  these,  or  the  telestial  glory: 

These  are  they  who  are  liars,  and  sorcer- 
ers, and  adulterers,  and  whoremongers,  and 
whosoever  loves  and  makes  a  lie. —  ( D.  &  C. 
76:103) 

The  doctrine  of  this  Church  is  that 
sexual  sin — the  illicit  sexual  relations  of 
men  and  women — stands,  in  its  enormi- 
ty, next  to  murder. 

The  Lord  has  drawn  no  essential  dis- 
tinctions between  fornication,  adultery, 
and  harlotry  or  prostitution.  Each  has 
fallen  under  His  solemn  and  awful 
condemnation. 

You  youths  of  Zion,  you  cannot  as- 
sociate in  non-marital,  illicit  sex  rela- 
tionships, which  is  fornication,  and  es- 
cape the  punishments  and  the  judgments 
which  the  Lord  has  declared  against 
this  sin.  The  day  of  reckoning  will 
come  just  as  certainly  as  night  follows 
day.  They  who  would  palliate  this 
crime  and  say  that  such  indulgence  is 
but  a  sinless  gratification  of  a  normal 
desire,  like  appeasing  hunger  and  thirst, 
speak  filthiness  with  their  lips.  Their 
counsel  leads  to  destruction;  their  wis- 
dom comes  from  the  Father  of  Lies. 

You  husbands  and  wives  who  have 
taken  on  solemn  obligations  of  chas- 
tity in  the  holy  temples  of  the  Lord 
and  who  violate  those  sacred  vows  by 
illicit  sexual  relations  with  others,  you 
not  only  commit  the  vile  and  loath- 
some sin  of  adultery,  but  you  break  the 
oath  you  yourselves  made  with  the 
Lord  Himself  before  you  went  to  the 
altar  for  your  sealing.  You  become 
subject  to  the  penalties  which  the  Lord 


758 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


THE  MESSAGE  OF  THE  FIRST  PRESIDENCY 


has  prescribed  for  those  who  breach 
their  covenants  with  Him. 

Of  the  harlots  and  those  who  visit 
them,  God  speaks  in  terms  of  divine 
contempt.  They  are  they  who  have  bar- 
gained away  an  eternity  of  bliss  for  the 
momentary  pleasures  of  the  flesh. 

The  Lord  will  have  only  a  clean 
people.  He  has  said,  "I,  the  Lord,  will 
contend  with  Zion,  and  plead  with  her 
strong  ones,  and  chasten  her  until  she 
overcomes  and  is  clean  before  me,"  (D, 
&  C.  90:36) 

But  they  who  sin  may  repent,  and, 
they  repenting,  God  will  forgive  them, 
for  the  Lord  has  said,  "Behold,  he  who 
has  repented  of  his  sins,  the  same  is 
forgiven,  and  I,  the  Lord,  remember 
them  no  more."    (D.  &  C.  58:42) 

By  virtue  of  the  authority  in  us 
vested  as  the  First  Presidency  of  the 
Church,  we  warn  our  people  who  are 
offending,  of  the  degradation,  the 
wickedness,  the  punishment  that  at- 
tend upon  unchastity;  we  urge  you  to 
remember  the  blessings  which  flow 
from  the  living  of  the  clean  life;  we 
call  upon  you  to  keep,  day  in  and  day 
out,  the  way  of  strictest  chastity, 
through  which  only  can  God's  choice 
gifts  come  to  you  and  His  Spirit  abide 
with  you. 

How  glorious  is  he  who  lives  the 
chaste  life.  He  walks  unfearful  in  the 
full  glare  of  the  noonday  sun,  for  he  is 


without  moral  infirmity.  He  can  be 
reached  by  no  shafts  of  base  calumny, 
for  his  armor  is  without  flaw.  His 
virtue  cannot  be  challenged  by  any  just 
accuser,  for  he  lives  above  reproach. 
His  cheek  is  never  blotched  with 
shame,  for  he  is  without  hidden  sin. 
He  is  honored  and  respected  by  all 
mankind,  for  he  is  beyond  their  censure, 
He  is  loved  by  the  Lord,  for  he  stands 
without  blemish.  The  exaltations  of 
eternities  await  his  coming. 

Parenthood 

Amongst  His  earliest  commands  to 
**•  Adam  and  Eve,  the  Lord  said: 
"Multiply  and  replenish  the  earth."  He 
has  repeated  that  command  in  our  day. 
He  has  again  revealed  in  this,  the  last 
dispensation,  the  principle  of  the  eter- 
nity of  the  marriage  covenant.  He 
has  restored  to  earth  the  authority  for 
entering  into  that  covenant,  and  has 
declared  that  it  is  the  only  due  and 
proper  way  of  joining  husband  and 
wife,  and  the  only  means  by  which  the 
sacred  family  relationship  may  be  car- 
ried beyond  the  grave  and  through 
eternity.  He  has  declared  that  this 
eternal  relationship  may  be  created 
only  by  the  ordinances  which  are  ad- 
ministered in  the  holy  temples  of  the 
Lord,  and  therefore  that  His  people 
should  marry  only  in  His  temple  in  ac- 
cordance with  such  ordinances. 


fr 


The  Lord  has  told  us  that  it  is  the 
duty  of  every  husband  and  wife  to  obey 
the  command  given  to  Adam  to  multi- 
ply and  replenish  the  earth,  so  that  the 
legions  or  choice  spirits  waiting  for 
their  tabernacles  of  flesh  may  come 
here  and  move  forward  under  God's 
great  design  to  become  perfect  souls, 
For  without  these  fleshly  tabernacles 
they  cannot  progress  to  their  God- 
planned  destiny.  Thus,  every  husband 
and  wife  should  become  a  father  and 
mother  in  Israel  to  children  born  under 
the  holy,  eternal  covenant. 

By  bringing  these  choice  spirits  to 
earth,  each  father  and  each  mother  as- 
sume towards  the  tabernacled  spirit  and 
towards  the  Lord  Himself  by  having 
taken  advantage  of  the  opportunity  He 
offered,  an  obligation  of  the  most 
sacred  kind,  because  the  fate  of  that 
spirit  in  the  eternities  to  come,  the 
blessings  or  punishments  which  shall 
await  it  in  the  hereafter,  depend,  in 
great  part,  upon  the  care,  the  teachings, 
the  training  which  the  parents  shall 
give  to  that  spirit. 

No  parent  can  escape  that  obligation 
and  that  responsibility,  and  for  the 
proper  meeting  thereof,  the  Lord  will 
hold  us  to  a  strict  accountability.  No 
loftier  duty  than  this  can  be  assumed 
by  mortals. 

Motherhood  thus  becomes  a  holy 
(Continued  on  page  761 ) 

& 


CdUk  Ojua.  Tbw  (phoApshih^— 

A  NEW  OBLIGATION 


/^N  the  past  few  months  we  in  Utah  have  seen  Industrial  Development  and   ex- 
\M  pansion  of  opportunity  beyond  our  fondest  hopes.     Our  many  resources  are 

\_^/     being  re-evaluated  and  have  been  found  to  be  of  far  greater  worth  than 

most  of  us  realized. 

Many  new  hands  have  been  needed  to  turn  the  wheels  of  our  Industrialized 
Utah — fine  men  and  women  who  have  come  from  many  parts  of  the  country  to 
make  their  homes  with  us  and  to  engage  in  the  behind-the-lines  fight  against  op- 
pression. 

To  these  people  we  have  an  obligation  .  .  .  one  of  neighborliness  and  hos- 
pitality. We  all  have  a  fine  opportunity  now  to  extend  these  new-comers  a  hand 
of  welcome— to  tell  them  of  the  wonders  and  beauty  of  their  new  home — to  make 
them  feel  that  they  are  among  true,  hospitable  friends. 

To  one  who  has  seen  the  "desert  bloom  as  a  rose,"  the  commissioners  of  the 
Department  of  Publicity  and  Industrial  Development  extend  greetings  and  congrat- 
ulations to  President  Heber  J.  Grant  on  the  eighty-sixth  anniversary  of  his  birth. 


A.    S.    BROWN,    Chairman 


H.   J.    PLUMHOF 


OR A    BUNDY 


DEPARTMENT    OF    PUBLICITY    AND    INDUSTRIAL    DEVELOPMENT 

Dooly  Bldg.  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


ft- 


-it 

759 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


They're  All  Out  for  Victory 

at  Utah  Copper 


Presented 

to  the 

Organization 


Presented  to 
Each  Man 


On  October  12th  the  coveted  "E"  of  the  Army  and  Navy  was  presented  to 
the  Utah  Copper  Co.  and  men  at  the  mine  and  mills. 

This  is  the  Nation's  highest  industrial  award  for  excellence  in  production 
for  the  war  effort. 

It  is  a  fitting  tribute  to  the  workers  and  management  for  their  loyalty,  skill, 
efficiency  and  wholehearted  cooperation. 

We  congratulate  the  employees  and  the  company  for  this  outstanding 
achievement. 


THE  METAL  MINING  INDUSTRY  OF  UTAH 


International  Smelting  &  Refining  Co. 

United  States  Smelting  Refining 
and  Mining  Company 

Silver  King  Coalition  Mines  Co. 


American  Smelting  &  Refining  Co. 
Combined  Metals  Reduction  Co. 
Chief   Consolidated  Mining   Co. 


Park  Utah  Consolidated  Mines  Co. 

Ohio  Copper  Company  of  Utah 
Tintic  Standard  Mining   Company 
Park  City  Consolidated  Mines  Co. 


760 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


THE  MESSAGE  OF  THE  FIRST  PRESIDENCY 


{Continued  from  page  759) 
calling,  a  sacred  dedication  for  carry- 
ing out  the  Lord's  plans,  a  consecra- 
tion of  devotion  to  the  uprearing  and 
fostering,  the  nurturing  in  body,  mind, 
and  spirit,  of  those  who  kept  their  first 
estate  and  who  come  to  this  earth  for 
their  second  estate  "to  see  if  they  will 
do  all  things  whatsoever  the  Lora  their 
God  shall  command  them."  (Abraham 
3:25)  To  lead  them  to  keep  their  sec- 
ond estate  is  the  work  of  motherhood, 
and  "they  who  keep  their  second  estate 
shall  have  glory  added  upon  their  heads 
for  ever  and  ever."    (op.  cit. ) 

This  divine  service  of  motherhood 
can  be  rendered  only  by  mothers.  It 
may  not  be  passed  to  others.  Nurses 
cannot  do  it;  public  nurseries  cannot 
do  it;  hired  help  cannot  do  it — only 
mother,  aided  as  much  as  may  be  by 
the  loving  hands  of  father,  brothers, 
and  sisters,  can  give  the  full  needed 
measure  of  watchful  care. 

The  mother  who  entrusts  her  child 
to  the  care  of  others,  that  she  may  do 
non-motherly  work,  whether  for  gold, 
for  fame,  or  for  civic  service,  should 
remember  that  "a  child  left  to  himself 
bringeth  his  mother  to  shame."  (Pro v. 
29:15)  In  our  day  the  Lord  has  said 
that  unless  parents  teach  their  children 
the  doctrines  of  the  Church  "the  sin  be 
upon  the  heads  of  the  parents."  (D.  & 
C.  68:25) 

Motherhood  is  near  to  divinity.  It 
is  the  highest,  holiest  service  to  be  as- 
sumed by  mankind.  It  places  her  who 
honors  its  holy  calling  and  service  next 
to  the  angels.  To  you  mothers  in  Israel 
we  say  God  bless  and  protect  you,  and 
give  you  the  strength  and  courage,  the 
faith  and  knowledge,  the  holy  love  and 
consecration  to  duty,  that  shall  enable 
you  to  fill  to  the  fullest  measure  the 
sacred  calling  which  is  yours.  To  you 
mothers  and  mothers-to-be  we  say :  Be 
chaste,  keep  pure,  live  righteously,  that 
your  posterity  to  the  last  generation 
may  call  you  blessed. 

Unity 

'"Phe  Lord  has  said  to  His  Saints  in 
these  days: 

I  say  unto  you,  be  one;  and  if  ye  are  not 
one  ye  are  not  mine. —  (D.  &  C.  38:27) 

These  days  through  which  we  are 
now  passing  present  many  problems 
which  are  new  to  all  of  us  but  are  par- 
ticularly strange  to  the  younger  gen- 
eration— those  who  have  little  back- 
ground of  experience  and  whose 
knowledge  is  limited  and  immature.  In- 
fidelity, atheism,  unchastity,  intemper- 
ance, civil  corruption,  greed,  avarice, 
ambition — personal,  political,  national 
— are  more  powerful  today  than  at  any 
other  time  in  the  lives  of  us  now 
living.  They  are  pulling  and  thrusting 
us  almost  at  will  into  new  fields  of  ac- 
tion, new  lines  of  thought.  They  are 
shaking  the  faith,  undermining  the 
morals,  polluting  the  lives  of  the  peo- 
ple.    They  have  thrown  many  so  far 


off  balance  in  all  of  their  activities, 
economic,  social,  political,  and  relig- 
ious, that  they  stand  in  real  danger  of 
falling.  Satan  is  making  war  against 
all  the  wisdom  that  has  come  to  men 
through  their  ages  of  experience.  He 
is  seeking  to  overturn  and  destroy  the 
very  foundations  upon  which  society, 
government,  and  religion  rest.  He  aims 
to  have  men  adopt  theories  and  prac- 
tices which  he  induced  their  forefa- 
thers, over  the  ages,  to  adopt  and  try, 
only  to  be  discarded  by  them  when 
found  unsound,  impractical,  and  ruin- 
ous. He  plans  to  destroy  liberty  and 
freedom — economic,  political,  and  re- 
ligious, and  to  set  up  in  place  thereof 
the  greatest,  most  widespread,  and 
most  complete  tyranny  that  has  ever 
oppressed  men.  He  is  working  under 
such  perfect  disguise  that  many  do  not 
recognize  either  him  or  his  methods. 
There  is  no  crime  he  would  not  com- 
mit, no  debauchery  he  would  not  set 
up,  no  plague  he  would  not  send,  no 
heart  he  would  not  break,  no  life  he 
would  not  take,  no  soul  he  would  not 
destroy.  He  comes  as  a  thief  in  the 
night;  he  is  a  wolf  in  sheep's  clothing. 
Without  their  knowing  it,  the  people 
are  being  urged  down  paths  that  lead 
only  to  destruction.  Satan  never  be- 
fore had  so  firm  a  grip  on  this  genera- 
tion as  he  has  now. 

In  the  midst  of  this  welter  of  lying 
and  deception,  of  woe  and  misery,  of 
death  and  destruction,  of  violent  dis- 
order and  threatening  chaos,  the  only 
saving  forces  on  earth  are  the  eternal 
principles  of  the  everlasting  gospel  of 
Christ  and  the  rights  and  powers  of  the 
Priesthood  of  Almighty  God.  We  of 
this  Church  stand  as  the  sole  possessors 
of  these  mighty  forces  which  we  have 
for  our  own  blessing,  salvation,  and 
exaltation,  not  only,  but  also  we  hold 
them  in  trust  for  all  mankind,  those 
who  now  live,  those  who  are  dead  and 
gone,  and  those  to  be  born  in  the  fu- 
ture, that  they,  too,  all  of  them  who 
will  receive  and  obey  the  gospel,  may 
likewise  be  saved  and  exalted. 

Standing  thus,  we  have  the  loftiest, 
the  most  vital,  the  most  sacred  respon- 
sibility and  obligation  which  God  can 
bestow  upon  man — a  responsibility 
and  obligation  which  transcends  every 
other  that  can  come  to  us  and  for  the 
meeting  of  which  God  will  hold  us 
strictly  accountable.  To  this  high  call- 
ing we  must  dedicate  all  that  we  have, 
all  that  we  are,  and  all  that  we  may  be- 
.  come.  No  lesser  consecration  than 
this  will  meet  the  full  measure  of  our 
divinely  imposed  duty. 

In  the  awesome  war  we  must  wage 
to  bring  righteousness  and  salvation  to 
men,  we  must  stand  shoulder  to  shoul- 
der and  go  forward  as  one.  To  this 
glorious  conflict  to  destroy  sin  and  set 
up  righteousness,  we  call  every  mem- 
ber of  the  Church.  We  must  reinforce 
our  determinations,  renew  our  resolu- 
tions, retake  our  covenants,  to  serve 
God  and  to  keep  His  commandments. 
(Continued  on  page  762) 


it- 


■# 


Young  Latter-day  Saints 
Can  Serve  AMERICA . . . 


more  skilfully  and  strongly 
after  training  at  their 
Church  University. 

V  Young  men  can  enlist 
in  the  Reserve  Officers' 
Corps  (Army,  Navy,  Ma- 
rines, Coast  Guard,  Air 
Forces)  and  carry  on  stud- 
ies that  will  help  them  in 
war  and  in  peace. 

V  Young  women  can 
study  business,  home 
economics,  and  many  other 
subjects  fitting  them  to 
serve  in  war  industry,  serv- 
ice auxiliaries,  etc. 

VB  o  t  h  sexes  receive 
spiritual  development 
which  will  help  them  work 
and  fight  courageously, 
cleanly,  and  successfully. 

Special  arrangements  are 
made  so  that  persons  who 
have  been  working  in  agri- 
culture or  war  industry  may 
enroll  late  and  secure  full 
advantage  of  the  time  re- 
maining in  the  quarter. 

Autumn  Quarter  Ends 
December  18 

Winter  Quarter: 
January  4-March  26 

For  Information,  address  The  President 


Briglram  Young  University 

PROVO,    UTAH 

ik- — & 


LOS  ANGELES 

Ml  iHEMBU    HDTEL 


^ALEXANDRIA 


RATES;  FROM  $2.50  SINGLS 
FROM  tt.SO  DOUBLE 
DOWNTOWN  H  N  CARAC* 


Recognized  Utah  Headquarters  in 
Los  Angeles 

CLAYTON    V.    SMITH,  Managing  Director 

Formerly  of  Salt  Lake  City 


THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

Now  going  into  more  than  60,000  homes 
every  month. 

Attractive    donor    cards    will    accompany 
gift  subscriptions. 


76) 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


ft  ft   ft  ft   ft- ft   ft-  ft   ft  -ft    ft  ft 


THE  PATRIOTIC  THIN  TO  DO 


Buy  War  Bonds — all  you  possibly 
can — as  your  part  in  helping  to  win 
the  war. 

In  addition,  provide  for  your  future 
security  by  building  up  a  cash  re- 
serve in  a  substantial  Savings  Ac- 
count with  one  of  these  First  Security 
banks. 

FIRST   SECURITY   BANK   OF   UTAH 

National   Association 

With  branches  at  Ogden,  Provo,  Logan, 
Bingham,  Magna,  Richmond,  Park  City 

FIRST    NATIONAL   BANK  ~ 

Of  Salt  Lake  City 
With  branches  at  Sugarhouse  and  Tooele 

FIRST   SECURITY   TRUST    CO. 

Of  Salt  Lake  City 

FIRST   SECURITY   BANK   OF    IDAHO 

National  Association 

With  branches  at  Boise,  Blackfoot,  Emmett,  Gooding,  Hailey, 
Idaho  Falls,  Jerome,  Montpelier,  Mountain  Home,  Nampa, 
Payette,   Pocatello,  Preston,  Rexburg,   St.  Anthony,  Shoshone 

FIRST   SECURITY   BANK 

Rock  Springs,  Wyoming 

Members  of 
Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation 

ft       ft        ftftftftftftftftftft 


of   the   pertinent,   inspired   messages   to   this  generation   from  a 
leader    who   has    devoted   his    lifetime    to    good   of    mankind — 

GOSPEL  STANDARDS 

By  President  Heber  J.  Grant 


400  pages— $2.25  a  copy 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA 

50  North  Main 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


The  Message  of  the 
First  Presidency 

(Continued  from  page  761) 

From  the  great  war  in  heaven  until 
now  the  armies  of  righteousness  have 
marched  under  one  banner.  They  have 
obeyed  Him  who  stands  at  the  head. 
They  have  not,  as  it  were,  been,  and 
we  may  not  be,  of  Paul,  of  Apollos,  of 
Cephas,  "some  of  John,  and  some  of 
Moses,  and  some  of  Elias,  and  some  of 
Esaias,  and  some  of  Isaiah,  and  some 
of  Enoch,"  for  all  these  inherit  not  the 
celestial  kingdom.  To  gain  the  celestial 
glory  we  must  receive  the  gospel,  and 
the  testimony  of  Jesus  and  the  proph- 
ets, and  the  everlasting  covenant.  (D. 
&  C.  76:100-101) 

The  Lord  has  Himself  organized  us 
for  this  great  conflict  against  unright- 
eousness, foreseen  from  before  the 
foundations  of  the  earth  were  laid.  He 
has  prescribed  the  rules  and  regula- 
tions for  our  government  while  in  this 
field  of  action.  He  has  placed  at  our 
head  His  mouthpiece  on  earth  and  has 
given  him  full  authority  to  direct  us  in 
this  conflict.  He  who  disobeys  or  dis- 
honors that  head  is  a  traitor  to  the 
Lord's  cause.  Unrepentant,  he  must  be 
cast  out  from  the  Lord's  people. 

We  who  serve  under  the  Lord's 
anointed,  must  serve  with  full  loyalty 
and  devotion.  We  must  heed  his  in- 
structions and  admonitions.  The  prin- 
ciples, the  ordinances,  the  rites  and 
ceremonies — few  as  they  are— may  not 
be  changed  by  any  of  us.  The  Lord 
casts  off  those  who  "transgress  His 
laws,  change  His  ordinances,  and  break 
His  everlasting  covenant." 

The  principles  of  the  gospel  are  all- 
embracing — they  are  everlasting,  un- 
changeable, ultimate  truth.  They  will 
fit  every  situation,  every  problem, 
every  contingency  that  may  arise  in 
the  life  of  man.  There  are  no  local 
problems,  no  peculiar  situations,  in 
ward  or  stake,  that  may  not  be  solved 
under  these  principles.  It  will  not  do 
for  any  Church  officer  or  member  to 
work  out  for  himself  a  different  course 
from  that  prescribed.  This  will  lead  to 
disorder,  and  the  Lord's  house  is  ahouse 
of  order.  When  new  light  is  needed, 
or  further  instructions,  the  Lord  will 
make  them  known  through  His  ap- 
pointed representative.  What  we 
should  seek,  is  wisdom  to  apply  the  old 
and  true  principles  to  new  situations. 
Let  us  not  suppose  that  man  has  re- 
cently changed  in  his  essential  quali- 
ties or  habits,  for  this  is  not  true;  all 
that  has  happened  today  is  that  some 
basic  passions  which,  through  the  gen- 
erations, mankind  had  brought  under 
control,  have  now  broken  loose  in 
something  of  their  primeval  strength. 
They  are  not  new  passions.  We  pos- 
sess the  principles  which  brought  them 
under  subjection  once;  these  principles 
were  given  to  man  in  the  very  begin- 
ning for  this  exact  purpose;  we  must 
now  apply  them  again  to  conquer  these 
( Continued  on  page  764 ) 


762 


"£ven  this  shall  pass  away  ..." 

President  Heber  J.  Grant  must  have  said  this  to  him- 
self many  times  during  his  eventful  life  as  he  looked 
beyond  the  difficulties  of  the  day  .  .  .  dipt  into  the  future 
.  .  .  saw  the  better  things  that  would  be.  As  a  child  he 
experienced  the  tragedy  of  a  Civil  War  within  our  own 
land.  Indian  uprisings,  the  Spanish  American  War,  the 
first  World  War  ...  all  came  and  went  in  the  years  so 
filled  with  achievement  and  success  for  Heber  Grant. 
Today,  in  the  midst  of  world  chaos,  the  courage  and 
strength  of  this  great  spiritual  leader  are  a  constant 
inspiration. 

Rio  Grande  congratulates  President  Grant  on  this, 
the  86th  anniversary  of  his  birth.  His  brilliant  achieve- 
ments have  been  a  stimulus  to  Rio  Grande,  which  began 
its  service  as  Utah's  Home  Railroad  about  the  time  that 
young  Heber  J.  Grant  was  assuming  leadership  in  relig- 
ious, civic  and  industrial  affairs. 

Rio  Grande  is  proud  to  have  been  one  of  Utah's 
pioneers  .  .  .  proud  to  be  enlisted  now  in  the  great  trans- 
portation army  of  our  country  .  .  .  speeding  Utah's  stal- 
wart sons  to  fighting  fronts  .  .  .  rushing  Utah's  wealth 
of   resources   to  far-flung  production  fronts. 


W.    C.    HOWE,    Assistant    Traffic    Manager 
DENVER    AND     RIO    GRANDE    WESTERN     RAILROAD 

SALT    LAKE    CITY,    UTAH 


763 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


"L.  D.  S.  Training  Pays!" 

Whether  we  want 

to  work  or  not .... 

We're  All 
Going  to  Work! 

High  School  and 

College  Graduates 

Wives  of  Service  Men 

Former  Office  Workers 

Men  of  Military  Age  ... . 

Get  the  training  that  will 
qualify  you  for  pleasant, 
profitable,  important  work 
in  the  war  effort  and  in 
the  reconstruction  period 
that  follows. 

Register  NOW  for  in- 
tensive, practical  training. 
We'll  gladly  send  informa- 
tion on  request. 

L.  D.  S. 
BUSINESS 
COLLEGE 

SALT  LAKE  CITY 


Cleans  your:  painted  walls 
and  woodwork  like  you  dust 


THE  MESSAGE  OF  THE  FIRST  PRESIDENCY 


(Continued  from  page  763) 
same  old  foes  of  righteousness.  This 
is  not  a  new  world;  it  is  an  old  and  sin- 
ful world  again  returned,  and  now  once 
more  to  be  reconquered  and  rejuve- 
nated. 

We  must  cling  to  the  rigid  simplicity 
of  the  principles  Jesus  taught,  to  the 
strict  simplicity  of  the  ordinances  He 
has  established — neither  elegance  nor 
pomp,  nor  elaborate  ritual  and  cere- 
mony had  any  place  therein;  we  must 
keep  the  everlasting  covenant. 

Men  in  the  Armed  Service 

HPo  our  men  in  the  armed  service 
everywhere  we  send  our  greetings 
and  love.  We  repeat  our  message,  re- 
new our  admonitions,  rebestow  our 
blessings  recited  in  our  message  at  the 
conference  of  last  April.  We  pray  in 
a  prayer  which  daily  ascends  to  our 
Heavenly  Father,  that  you  will  live 
righteously,  that  you  will  be  preserved, 
that  God  will  hasten  the  working  out  of 
His  purposes  among  the  nations,  so 
that  peace  may  come  and  you  be  re- 
stored to  your  loved  ones,  as  clean  as 
the  day  on  which  you  left  them. 

Our  constant  prayer  is  that  He  will 
give  us  wisdom  to  help  you  in  your 
sacrificing  service  to  your  country. 

We  are  making  every  effort  that 
opens  to  us  to  aid  you.  Your  frequent 
shiftings  from  place  to  place,  made 
necessary  by  the  exigencies  of  your 
duties,  increase  our  difficulties  almost 
immeasurably.  But  we  shall  do  the 
best  we  can.  We  are  setting  up  a  spe- 
cial committee  whose  particular  duty 
and  function  it  shall  be  to  devise  and 
carry  out  means  of  keeping  in  touch 
with  you  men  in  the  service. 

Realizing  that  one  of  the  greatest 
blessings  that  can  come  to  you  is 
words  of  cheer  from  your  loved  ones  at 
home,  we  renew  and  make  urgent  our 
request  that  these  loved  ones  send  you 
frequent  letters.  No  parent  should  let 
a  week  go  by  without  a  letter  sent  to 
his  loved  ones  in  the  service.  Every 
wife  should  write  as  frequently,  and  so 
should  sweethearts.  Every  bishop 
either  himself  directly  or  through  one 
of  his  counselors,  should  write  at  least 
once  a  month  to  every  member  of  his 
ward  who  is  in  the  armed  service,  and 
so  should  every  presidency  of  a  Priest- 
hood quorum  with  a  member  in  the 
field.  This  is  little  enough  for  us  to  do 
for  those  prepared  to  sacrifice  all  at 
their  country's  behest. 

Under  our  direction,  you  brethren 
in  the  service  have  been  requested  to 
organize  Mutual  Improvement  groups 
in  your  camps,  so  that  both  your  rec- 
reational and  spiritual  needs  may  be 
served.  This  you  brethren  may  do 
wherever  you  go.  Let  your  organiza- 
tions be  set  up  after  counseling  to- 
gether and  by  mutual  consent.  In  your 
gatherings  you  can,  the  proper  Priest- 
hood officers  officiating,  administer  the 
sacrament.    You,  who  hold  the  proper 


authority,  can  administer  to  the  sick; 
you  can  teach  and  exhort  one  another 
to  works  of  righteousness.  You  can 
build  up  and  support,  one  in  the  other, 
faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  His 
atonement,  and  in  the  gospel,  and  this 
faith  will  hold  when  all  else  seems 
gone. 

We  are  prepared  to  send  you  Church 
books  and  pamphlets  as  you  may  need 
and  desire. 

We  wish  to  bring  to  you  every 
spiritual  comfort  and  consolation,  every 
encouragement,  every  upbuilding  in- 
fluence which  we  can  command.  We 
and  the  brethren  and  the  whole  Church 
pray  for  you  constantly.  And  again 
we  pray  here :  May  the  Lord  bless  and 
preserve  you  and  keep  you  clean. 

But  we  urge  you  to  remember  that 
your  righteousness  rests  between  you 
and  your  God.  Others  may  exhort,  en- 
courage, and  support,  but  you  only  can 
win  the  victory  for  your  salvation, 
aided  always  by  the  love,  the  mercy, 
and  grace  of  your  Heavenly  Father, 
who  will  be  always  near  you  in  your 
righteous  life,  wherever  your  lot  may 
be  cast. 

Again  we  say,  God  bless  you. 

The  War 

\X/e  renew  the  statement  made  in  our 
vv  message  of  the  last  April  confer- 
ence, that  obedient  to  the  direct  com- 
mand of  the  Lord  given  to  us  more 
than  a  hundred  years  ago  ( directing  us 
to  "renounce  war  and  proclaim  peace" 
— D.  &  C.  98:16)  the  Church  is  and 
must  be  against  war,  for  war  is  of 
Satan  and  this  Church  is  the  Church  of 
Christ,  who  taught  peace  and  righteous- 
ness and  brotherhood  of  man. 

As  those  chosen  and  ordained  to 
stand  at  the  head  of  the  Savior's 
Church,  as  followers  of  the  lowly  Jesus 
trying  to  live  His  gospel  and  to  obey 
His  commandments,  we  must  call  upon 
the  leaders  of  nations  to  abandon  the 
fiendishly  inspired  slaughter  of  the 
manhood  of  the  world  now  carrying 
on  and  further  planned. 

We  condemn  the  outcome  which 
wicked  and  designing  men  are  now 
planning,  namely:  the  worldwide  es- 
tablishment and  perpetuation  of  some 
form  of  Communism  on  the  one  side, 
or  of  some  form  of  Nazism  or  Fascism 
on  the  other.  Each  of  these  systems 
destroys  liberty,  wipes  out  free  institu- 
tions, blots  out  free  agency,  stifles  free 
press  and  free  speech,  crushes  out  free- 
dom of  religion  and  conscience.  Free 
peoples  cannot  and  do  not  survive  un- 
der these  systems.  Free  peoples  the 
world  over  will  view  with  horror  the 
establishment  of  either  Communism  or 
Nazism  as  a  worldwide  system.  Each 
system  is  fostered  by  those  who  deny 
the  right  and  the  ability  of  the  common 
people  to  govern  themselves.  We  pro- 
claim that  the  common  people  have 
both  this  right  and  this  ability. 

We  renew  our  declaration  that  in- 


764 


THE   IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


The  Message  of  the 
First  Presidency 

ternational  disputes  can  and  should  be 
settled  by  peaceful  means.  This  is  the 
way  of  the  Lord. 

We  call  upon  the  statesmen  of  the 
world  to  assume  their  rightful  control 
of  the  affairs  of  nations  and  to  bring 
this  war  to  an  end,  honorable  and  just 
to  all.  Animated  and  led  by  the  spirit 
of  Christ,  they  can  do  it.  The  weeping 
mothers,  the  distraught  and  impover- 
ished wives,  the  fatherless  children  of 
the  world,  demand  that  this  be  done. 
In  this  way  only  will  enduring  peace 
come;  it  will  never  be  imposed  by 
armed  force.  Hate-driven  militarists 
and  leaders,  with  murder  in  their  hearts, 
will,  if  they  go  through  to  the  end, 
bring  merely  another  peace  that  will  be 
but  the  beginning  of  another  war. 

We  call  upon  the  Saints  the  world 
over  to  pray  to  God  constantly  in  faith, 
nothing  doubting,  that  He  will  bring 
His  purposes  speedily  to  pass  and  re- 
store peace  again  to  the  earth  to  bless 
His  children. 

To  the  Officers  and  Members 
of  the  Church 

\X/e  pour  out  our  thanks  to  our 
v"  Heavenly  Father  for  the  faithful- 
ness and  devotion  of  the  great  body  of 
the  Church,  without  which  the  work 
of  the  Lord  would  languish.  To  the 
faithful  members  we  extend  our  deep 
and  sincere  gratitude  for  their  loyal 
support  to  their  ward  and  stake  officers 
and  to  the  General  Authorities  of  the 
Church.  Except  for  this  also,  the 
growth  and  stability  of  the  Church 
would  suffer. 

For  the  faith  of  the  Saints  as  shown 
in  the  payment  of  their  tithes  and  offer- 
ings we  thank  the  Lord.  We  renew 
to  them  the  promise,  so  graphically 
pronounced  by  Malachi  to  ancient  Is- 
rael, that  for  their  faithfulness  the  Lord 
will  open  the  windows  of  Heaven  and 
pour  out  His  blessings  upon  them. 

We  are  grateful  likewise  for  the 
willing  and  effective  response  of  the 
people  to  the  Welfare  Plan.  We  call 
attention  to  the  repeated  official  warn- 
ings which  say  that  we  face  the  urgent 
likelihood  of  a  shortage  in  many  of 
the  necessities  of  life.  We  point  out 
that  the  very  purpose  of  the  Welfare 
Plan  is  to  help  the  people  in  such  cir- 
cumstances. We  again  urge  that  they 
wholeheartedly  support  and  work  out 
this  plan  in  its  full  measure. 

We  thank  the  Priesthood  of  the 
Church  for  their  increased  activity  and 
devotion.  The  carrying  forward  of 
the  Lord's  work  rests  upon  their 
shoulders.  We  say  to  you  brethren, 
bearers  of  God's  Holy  Priesthood,  duly 
ordained  to  your  high  and  holy  calling 
by  the  servants  of  the  Lord  holding  His 
authority  thereto,  be  faithful  to  the 
divine  agency  that  has  been  bestowed 
upon  you,  magnify  your  offices,  seek 
for  the  blessings  of  the  Lord. 

(Concluded  on  page  767) 


ft       " 


Arthur  Gaeth 

(THE   WEST'S  OUSTANDING  NEWS  COMMENTATOR) 


99 


& 


Is 


NOW  HEARD 


Exclusively 
Over 


(Ogden  and  Salt  Lake) 
1430  on  Your  Dial 

AND 
THE 


ARTHUR    GAETH 


MUTUAL  MERM01ITM  1TW0RK 


& 


(Mondays  Through  Fridays) 

Mornings — 7:00  a.m. 

Noon — 12:30  p.m. 

Night— 7:00  p.m. 


it 


Come  On,  America! 

Jo  £nd.  Bul  UJjcUl 
U)&,  WbutL  U/m.  thsL  U)cUl 

Total  war  all  over  the  world  can  only  be  won  if  every 
man,  woman  and  child  in  America  give  the  fighting  forces 
their  support  with  all  their  might. 

It  will  take  the  best  efforts  of  us  all  to  win — 

Let's  GO! 

NEW  PARK  MINING  COMPANY 

KEETLEY  — UTAH 


(HtytB  lag— 
Knb  Aluraga 


An  ideal  Christmas  gift  book  which 
will  be  welcomed  by  the  boys  in  the 
service  as  well  as  the  folk  at  home. 

(See  page  717) 


765 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


SOLUTION  TO  OCTOBER  PUZZLE 


Kind  Your 
gazines . . . 


NOW  is  just  the  time  to  gather  up 
your  1942  Church  publications  and 
have  them  bound  into  attractive, 
convenient  volumes. 

PRESERVE  THIS  PRICELESS 
MATERIAL! 

And  the  cost  is  small.  Note  these 
prices: 

Improvement  Era,  per  volume. $2.00 

Relief   Society   Magazine,   per 
volume ._   1.50 

Instructor,  per  volume 1.50 

Children's  Friend,  per  volume..  2.00 

Bring  them  in,  or  mail  them, 
TODAY! 

The  Deseret  lews  Press 

29  Richards  Street 
Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

766  ~~ ™"~ "" 


Scriptural  Crossword  Puzzle— Old-Time  Occupations 

"And  because  he  was  of  the  same  craft,  he  abode  with  them,  and  wrought: 
for  by  their  occupation  they  were  tentmakers."  (Acts  18:3) 


ACROSS 


1  "I  have  cut  off  like   a  ...  my  life" 

Isa.  38:  12 
6  "Hath    not    the  .  .  .  power    over    the 

clay"  Rom.  9:  21 

11  A  provider  of  food  for  Elijah 

12  A  milk  provider  Gen.  32:  15 

13  "With  the  work  of  an  ...  in  stone" 

Ex.  28:  11 

15  Egyptian  sun  god 

16  Tantalum 

18  Feminine  proper  name 

19  "we  will  set  .  .  .  our  banners" 

20  Emperor 

22  "up  into  the 

23  Dealing  out 
25  Rustic 

27  "Behold,  a  . 

28  Vex 

29  A  famous  builder  Matt.  24:  38 


"  Ezek.  13:  5 


went  forth  to  sow" 


30  Judah's  firstborn  Gen.  38:  7 

32  Greek  letter 

33  Country 

36  A   workman    engaged   in   repairing  the 

temple  2  Chron.  24:  12 

38  Printer's  measure 

40  Island  off  Scotland 

42  Interest 

43  A  famous  scribe  and  priest 

45  Prefix  signifying  "not" 

46  Size  of  shot 

47  For 

48  Deprive  of  horns 

50  Part  of  a  day 

51  King  who  had  gout  2  Chron.  16:  12 

52  Irish 

53  Worker  on  a  ship  Rev.  18:  17 

54  Worker  mentioned  in  Ezek.  5:  1 


DOWN 


1  "out  of  Zebulum  they  that  handle  the 

pen  of  the  .  .  ."  Judg.  5:  14 

2  Babylonian  deity 

3  Salutation 

4  Opening 

5  Part  of  Great  Britain 

6  Makes  smooth 

7  Presage 

8  Genus  of  mollusks 

9  Thallium 

10  One  of  the  workers  mentioned  in 
Christ's  parable  of  the  tares 

12  "Is  not  this  the  ...  ,  the  son  of  Mary" 
Mark  6:  3 

14  Long  narrow  inlet 

15  "a  man   named  Jairus,    and   he  was   a 

...  of  the  synagogue" 
17  River  of  East  Asia 
21  Melchizedek  "was  the  .  .  .  of  the  most 

high  God"  Gen.  14:  18 


22  Ruth  was  a  .  .  .  Ruth  2:  17 
24  ".  .   .  no  man  any  thing" 

26  Singing  part 

27  53  across  worked  on  this 

31  "and   craftsmen    and  ...  a   thousand" 
2  Kings  24:  16 

34  This    was    Andrew's    occupation    when 

Christ  called  him  Mark  1:  16 

35  Peter  tarried  in  Joppa  "with  one  Simon 

a  .  .  ."  Acts  9:  43 
37  Cavities   (Anat.) 
39  This  man  was  struck  dead  by  "fire  from 

the  Lord"  Lev.  10:  1,  2 
41  "Shall   I  go   and   call   to   thee   a  .  .  ." 

Ex.  2:  7 
44  Lot  stopped  here  Gen.  19:  23 
47  Assyrian  king  2  Kings  15:  19 
49  Globe 


THE    IMPROVEMENT   ERA,   NOVEMBER,   1942 


THE  MESSAGE  OF  THE  FIRST  PRESIDENCY 


(Concluded  from  page  765) 

To  the  auxiliaries  we  are  grateful  for 
the  work  of  each  in  the  sphere  as- 
signed to  it.  You  represent  the  First 
Presidency  in  the  labor  assigned  to 
you.  Seek  earnestly  to  carry  out  not 
only  the  letter  but  the  spirit  of  the  in- 
structions from  time  to  time  issued  to 
you;  to  do  otherwise  will  bring  trouble 
and  a  lessening  of  the  good  you  are 
counted  upon  to  do. 

Again  we  thank  the  officers  of  stakes 
and  wards  for  their  devoted  service. 
The  Lord  will  give  them  manifold 
blessings  for  the  great  burdens  they 
carry  in  His  service. 

Lastly  we  give  to  our  brethren  and 
associates  of  the  General  Authorities, 
our  unstinted  love  and  gratitude  for 
their  loyal  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the 
Lord,  for  the  unfailing  assistance  they 
give  to  the  First  Presidency  in  carry- 
ing the  great  burdens  of  these  troublous 
times,  and  for  their  faith  and  the  right- 
eousness of  their  living. 

Upon  all  we  ask  the  Lord  to  bestow 
His  choicest  blessings. 

We  close  with  a  prayer : 

Our  Heavenly  Father: 

In  deep  humility  we  Thy  people, 
Israel  of  today,  come  to  Thy  throne 
pleading  for  Thy  grace  and  Thy  mercy. 
Forgive  what  Thou  hast  seen  amiss  in 
us,  overlook  our  waywardness,  keep 
not  in  mind  our  lightmindedness  and 
our  forgetfulness  of  our  debt  to  Thee 
for  all  we  have  and  are,  but  hold  in 
memory  our  desire  to  serve  Thee  and 


to  keep  Thy  commandments,  and  in- 
crease these  to  us  from  day  to  day.  Let 
nothing  be  betwixt  us  and  Thee  at  this 
hour.  And  standing  thus,  our  Heaven- 
ly Father,  we  beseech  Thee  speedily  to 
work  out  Thy  purposes  in  the  earth. 
Bring  quickly  to  those  against  whom 
Thy  righteous  anger  has  gone  forth  be- 
cause of  their  iniquity,  a  sense  of  their 
sins  and  great  guilt,  and  plant  in  their 
hearts  a  will  to  repent  and  hereafter  to 
walk  in  Thy  paths,  guided  only  by  Thy 
commandments,  that,  Thy  purposes  ac- 
complished, peace,  Thy  peace  and  the 
peace  of  man,  may  return  to  bless  the 
earth. 

Stay  the  hands,  O  Father,  of  the  De- 
stroyer. Let  him  not  further  curse  the 
world  with  the  slaughter  of  Thy  chil- 
dren, nor  pour  out  upon  them  a  fuller 
measure  of  the  sore  afflictions  of  fa- 
mine, plague,  and  pestilence.  We  know 
what  Thou  hast  decreed  against  a 
sinning  world,  but  we  humbly  bow  at 
Thy  throne  and  with  our  whole  hearts 
we  pray  Thee  that,  as  seemeth  to  Thee 
well,  in  Thy  infinite  knowledge  and 
wisdom,  Thou  wilt  abate  Thy  right- 
eous indignation,  take  away  from  the 
full  measure  of  Thy  punishments,  has- 
ten the  carrying  out  of  Thy  purposes, 
shorten  these  days  of  world  tribulation. 

We  know  how  we,  Thy  children, 
have  erred,  we  know  how  we  have 
failed  to  live  the  lives  Thou  hast  marked 
out  for  us,  but  at  this  time,  O  Father, 
we  humbly  pray  that  Thou  wilt  close 
Thine  eyes  to  our  misdoings  and  recall 


not  our  frailties,  nor  withhold  forgive- 
ness for  our  transgressions,  but  grant 
us  this,  our  prayer  for  the  speedy  ful- 
filment of  Thy  purposes,  that  peace 
may  come,  that  the  cries  of  a  wailing 
world  may  no  longer  afflict  Thine  ears, 
and  that  Thy  people  may  again  go  for- 
ward in  their  work  of  spreading  Thy 
gospel  and  bringing  salvation  to  the 
honest  in  heart. 

Bless  the  needy,  the  sick,  the  world 
over;  make  easy  the  pains  of  the  in- 
nocent and  righteous  ones  who  have 
been  torn  by  war;  comfort  the  mothers, 
the  widows,  the  fatherless.  Be  merci- 
ful to  all  who  suffer  in  mind  or  body 
or  spirit. 

For  Thy  boundless  mercies  to  us  we 
are  humbly  grateful.  Lead  us  day  by 
day  so  to  live  as  to  be  more  worthy  of 
Thy  manifold  blessings,  without  which 
we  should  perish. 

Grant  us  these  blessings,  O  Father, 
for  we  ask  them  humbly  in  the  name 
of  Thy  Son,  Jesus  Christ.     Amen. 


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The  First  Presidency. 


Your  Will  in  Wartime 


r>J       r>J       r»J 


In  time  of  war  the  Walker  Bank  and  Trust  Company,  acting  as  Executor  or  Trus- 
tee, enters  a  wider  field  of  service  and  responsibility.  Today,  more  than  ever 
before,  estate  management  requires  the  watchful  protection  of  a  trained,  experi- 
enced Executor. 

The  services  of  friends  or  relatives,  who  today  are  eager  to  help,  tomorrow  may 
not  be  available.  They  may  be  away  on  war  duty  or  too  busy  with  their  own 
multiplying  problems,  or  they  may  be  unfamiliar  with  such  rapidly-changing 
problems  as  investments,  accounting,  taxes  and  other  complex  estate  matters. 

Details  that  require  daily  attention  .  .  .  problems  that  de- 
mand prompt  action  .  .  .  are  best  left  in  the  care  of  our 
Trust  Department,  whose  full-time  business  is  managing 
and  conserving  estates. 

A  confidential  discussion  with  you  and  your  attorney 
can  be  conveniently  arranged  by  seeing  our  Trust  Officer. 

TRUST  DEPARTMENT 

Walker  Bank  &  Trust  Company 


Serving  Utah  in  Banking  Since  1859 


Resources  More  Than  Forty  Million  Dollars 


767 


■MouTPaqe  and  QuFs 


CORRECTION 

ON  page  605  of  the  September  Era  it  was  stated  under 
the  picture  that  Michel  grass  is  a  perennial.  Al- 
though this  has  been  the  belief  of  some  growers  and  the 
representation  of  some  seed  companies,  a  recent  com- 
munication representing  the  conclusions  of  agricultural 
experiment  stations  in  Colorado,  Utah,  and  Idaho  would 
indicate  that  Michel  grass  is  not  conceded  to  qualify 
as  a  perennial. 


Dear  Editor:  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

I  certainly  enjoyed  reading  the  story  of  the  Grizzly  Bear 
in  The  Improvement  Era,  as  Mr.  Graham  was  my  great- 
grandfather. My  mother,  Sarah  J.  Graham  Buxton,  was  a 
granddaughter  of  Mr.  Graham  and  is  still  living  at  the  age  of 
83.  She  lives  at  2734  Edison  St.,  in  Salt  Lake.  There 
are  also  three  other  of  his  grandchildren  living,  one  being  87. 
My  mother  confirms  the  story  as  being  exactly  true. 

Yours  truly, 

Mrs.  L.  Camp, 

256  Leslie  Ave.,  Salt  Lake. 

<♦> 


Snowflake,  Arizona 
Dear  Editor: 

I  would  like  to  advocate  that  the  Word  of  Wisdom  be  lived 
in  spirit  and  in  truth,  placing  the  emphasis  where  it  should 
be  on  "Walking  in  obedience  to  the  commandments,"  which  in 
the  final  analysis  is  simply,  "Love  the  Lord  thy  God  with 
all  thy  heart,  mind,  might  and  strength,  and  thy  neighbor  as 
thyself."  It  is  not  enough  that  we  repeat  these  commandments 
every  Sunday,  but  what  is  important,  do  we  live  as  we  profess, 
or  do  we  give  mere  lip  service? 

How  are  we  going  to  change  the  current  opinion  that  living 
the  Word  of  Wisdom  consists  only  of  abstaining  from  tea, 
coffee,  tobacco,  and  alcohol? 

[We  must]  live  according  to  the  "positive  teachings"  and 
particularly  the  "correct  mental  attitude"  as  advocated  by  Dr. 
Widtsoe. 

Is  it  not  time  that  we  were  placing  the  emphasis  where  it 
really  belongs:  first  charity,  which  is  the  "pure  love  of  God" 
and  which  comes  only  after  a  man  has  been  cast  out  of  the 
garden  for  partaking  of  the  forbidden  fruit,  that  his  eyes  might 
be  opened,  and  has  been  "tempted  in  all  things";  then,  through 
overcoming,  he  is  brought  back  into  the  presence  of  God. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Bessie  B.  Decker 
$ 

Adams,  New  York 

I  AM  writing  with  perhaps  a  score  or  more  of  Era's  on  my 
knees.  It  is  a  wonderful  thing  to  me  to  be,  through  The 
Improvement  Era,  in  such  close  contact  with  such  a  vast  move- 
ment. It  enables  my  family  to  keep  in  contact  with  all  auxili- 
aries and  their  present  work,  even  though  we  are  isolated.  For 
this  I  am  profoundly  grateful.  It  moves  me  to  drop  a  word  of 
praise  to  you  and  your  associates  in  the  work  you  are  doing. 
May  God  bless  you  always. 

Very  truly  yours, 
A.  G.  Peterson 

^ 

Greetings:  South  Gate,  California 

KNOWING  full  well  the  tradition  of  your  Church  toward  stimu- 
lants, may  I  say  that  the  present  offers  unusual  opportunity 
to  stress  your  fight,  particularly  against  tobacco  and  liquor. 

The  release  of  men  and  women  employed  in  the  manufacture, 
distribution,  and  sale  of  these  two  items  would  go  far  in  the 
direction  of  speeding  up  defense  work;  to  say  nothing  of  the 
greater  efficiency  and  morale  of  the  people  who  refrained  from 
the  use  of  these  destructive  poisons. 

A  stiffer  tax  on  these  non-essentials  would  also  be  in  line. 

Yours  truly, 

R.  E.  Brewer 


PROFESSIONAL  ADVICE 

A  grocer  had  difficulty  with  a  doctor  who  was  backward 
in  paying  his  bills,  so  he  put  the  matter  in  the  hands  of  a 
collector.     The  man  returned  looking  worried. 

"What's  the  matter?"  asked  the  grocer.  "What  did  the 
doctor  say?" 

"Well,"  replied  the  collector,  "he  said  I  wasn't  looking  so 
well,  examined  my  tongue  and  advised  me  to  remain  indoors 
for  a  few  weeks." 

THE  PRICE  OF  PEACE 

Over  the  counter  of  the  pawnshop  a  musician  handed  his 
violin  and  said:  "How  much?" 

The  proprietor  replied:  "Five  dollars." 

"That's  ridiculous!  Why,  the  neighbors  offered  me  more 
than  that!" 

HEARD  AT  CAMP 

Draftee:  "Can  you  lend  me  a  dollar?  I  don't  get  paid 
until  tomorrow." 

Veteran:     "Sorry,  I  haven't  a  cent.    I  was  paid  yesterday. ' 

RIGHT  THE  FIRST  TIME 

He  was  dug  out  of  his  wrecked  car  and  carried  to  the  doc- 
tor's office. 

"I  can't  do  anything  for  him,"  said  the  doctor,  "I'm  a  veteri- 
nary surgeon." 

"That's  all  right,"  replied  the  patient.  "I  was  a  jackass  to 
think  I  could  do  fifty  on  those  tires." 

OPPORTUNIST 

"Jones  seems  to  be  a  successful  man.  I  suppose  he  made 
hay  while  the  sun  shone." 

"Not  only  that,  but  he  made  it  from  the  grass  that  other 
people  let  grow  under  their  feet." 

WHAT'S  THE  LATER  REPORT? 

Mrs.  Jones:  "How's  your,  son  getting  along  in  the  Army, 
Mrs.  Srnith?^' 

Mrs.  Smith:  "What  do  you  think?  They've  promoted  Her- 
bert for  hitting  a  sergeant.    They've  made  him  a  court  martial." 

BE  FRANK 

Bride:      "I  have  a  confession  to  make,  dear;  I  can't  cook." 
Groom:     "Don't  let  that  worry  you.     I  write  poetry  for  a 
living.    There  won't  be  anything  to  cook." 

SIMPLY  PREPOSTHUMOUS 

A  man  met  another  he  hadn't  seen  for  a  long  time.  The 
stranger  said:    "Hullo,  I  thought  you  were  dead." 

"Why?"  ( 

"Well,  I've  heard  quite  a  few  people  saying  nice  things 
about  you." 

HOT  ON  THE  TRAIL 

"What  is  an  undertaker?" 

"An  undertaker  is  a  man  who  follows  the  medical  profession." 

TASTE  TELLS 

Young  wife:  "I  got  a  beautiful  parchment  diploma  from 
the  cooking  college  today,  and  I've  cooked  this  for  you.  Now 
guess  what  it  is?" 

Husband  (with  a  slab  of  omelet  between  his  teeth) :  "The 
diploma." 

HIGHER  EDUCATION 

A  young  girl  had  been  promoted  to  the  third  grade.  Meeting 
her  former  second  grade  teacher,  whom  she  liked  very  much,  she 
said,  "Gee,  I  wish  you  were  smart  enough  to  teach  me  this  year." 


768 


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SALT  LAKE   CITY 
50,000   WATTS 


€*\ 


«iv' 


U.  S.  POSTAGE 

2c  PAID 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 
Permit  No.  325 


:.::.;::?  ■'^s| 


H  I  N  I  N  G 

.  .    . ;    ,,  . 

The  far-reaching  rays  of  victorious  liberty  must  reach 
the  peoples  of  every  nation  in  every  part  of  the  world 

,_  .  .-:.v.-:[ kK,  ■-:-:'  vk^<    ■  ■-:  ^■■■:i\:h.'-.-.    k  ;ir-     •■'.'>:/■::. 

have  long  enjoyed.    Nothing  less  than  complete,  un- 

tof7vjth.sd   vicrc!-:-    ■.-.-^   vi;-'— -.■!;-.-r-.-^-y    ^  :■■■.- ,-■-,:.: 

want  and  tear. 

And  nothing  less  than  the  best  in  life  Insuranc 
will  do  for  the  protection  of  your  family.  Remember, 
too,  that  life  insurance  is  one  of  your  best  means  of 
saving  during  this  period  of  high  earnings.  Start  to- 
day and  enjoy  the  manifold  advantages  of  BENE- 
FICIAL Life  Insurance! 


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Salt  Lake  Ci»y.  Utah 


ill! 


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THE  IMPROVEMENT  ERA 

RETURN      POSTAGE     GUARANTEED 


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